Comics, comics, comics. Thanks to the lovely folks at Image, I got an early look at some upcoming books, and I was impressed. Below are reviews of three issue ones.
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Evolution No. 1
Publish date: 11/15/17
Writers: James Asmus, Joseph Keatinge, Christopher Sebela, and Joshua Williamson
Artists: Joe Infurnari and Jordan Boyd
“Human evolution has taken millions of years to get to this stage. But next week, we become something new.” This creepy horror comic had me from page one. The artwork is excellent with no crisp lines, few distinct boundaries, giving the world a slippery feel. Most of the panels are close-ups that focus on character and often leave portions of the face(s) out of the panel. It adds to the confusion, to not having all the information. This story is an introduction but not quite gathering of the team. The reader is introduced to a world on the edge of change, potentially catastrophic. Many compelling mysteries are introduced, and the final panel hints that the pace of the evolution is quickening. Recommended.
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Port of Earth No. 1
Publish date: 11/08/17
Writer: Zack Kaplan
Artist: Andrea Mutti
“They came not in peace or in violence but in business with a proposition.” Tasked with protecting the planet and with protecting the visitors, the Earth Security Agency (ESA) was created with training for non-lethal containment. What could go wrong? Port of Earth is about the creation and running of the ESA. Storywise, the possibilities are endless, and it piqued my curiosity. While not as many mysteries were introduced as in Evolution, it’s easy to see that this introduction is building to a larger arc. But due to the setup, the story could also take on the more standalone arcs like other police procedurals. The art works is excellent. The designs for the human portion of the comic look extrapolated from contemporary US designs, and the aliens vary from sufficiently weird to creative takes on familiar designs. The color palette is quite muted throughout the comic that lends more of a dystopian feel than a hopeful science fiction epic. Which way will the story break? Wasteland or paradise? Highly recommended.
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Coyotes No. 1
Publish date: 11/08/17
Writer: Sean Lewis
Artist: Caitlin Yarsky
“Hunted by a legion of wolves that roam the border, women are disappearing. The survivors band together to wage war.” The City of Lost Girls is a rough place. Coyotes starts with a room full of bodies and backstories its way to the aftermath. This horror comic is a fast paced metaphor for the daily dangers of being a woman. It’s especially powerful when surrounded by the stories of abuse and harassment coming out of Hollywood. As Analia/Red enters the fight, she seeks revenge for the assaults on the women in her life. Stunning visuals that have a southwest color scheme make this as enjoyable to look at as to read. The lines are simple, clear, and vibrant in the way of a truly practiced professional. It looks amazing. Highly recommended.