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Published by: Image Comics
Released on: Feb. 12, 2014
Writer: Kel Symons
Artist: Mathew Reynolds
Cover: Mathew Reynolds
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Set in the pre-World War II period during the Chinese/Japanese conflict in the Pacific, this first issue introduces characters and sets the stage for what feels like it will be a really good series. Possibly fantastic, but who tell in the first issue. What can be said for the first issue is that it was so good I read it three times. The dialogue is well written with various accents and it sets up a number of characters, but nothing too deep as yet.
Jack Harper, the head honcho on a non-military submarine, seeks a lost island called Koji Ra, and as legend says, the inhabitants knew of the secrets of the afterlife. As to what Jack's intentions are in finding the island remains to be seen. His crew consists of a number of people, and at this early stage here's what we've been given for information. Wulf is a German who operates the sub and who has no trouble speaking his mind. Jarreau is a French soldier of some sort who seems to be buddies with Toby, a glasses-wearing oddball. Samantha is a tomboy who has a brain for mechanics. And then there's Doc, an Army surgeon forced out of practice for accidentally for killing a patient. There's a dog in the story as well, named Friday, but she didn't do a whole lot except growl. She'd better not get killed.
Jack has a relationship with at least one tribe of cannibals, bringing them movies to watch as well as popcorn, and in exchange the tribes gives them food and goods to use in trade to keep their submarine moving. He also has a relationship with a lady (prostitute?) named Ping, and when he goes to visit her, Jack shows his true colors when a band of slavers confront him for sinking their ship at some point in the recent future. It's not a good thing to mess with Jack. Unfortunately for Jack, he seems to have upset more than one applecart, and someone else shows up looking for him; someone who is pretty pissed off. One other character in here they meet toward the end of the issue is Mr. Taylor, a man who wants to catch a ride on the sub for some undisclosed business.
Issue one is, as usual, a setup issue and it should absolutely leave the reader wanting more. But the real draw for this instant fan is the artwork. Mathew Reynolds' style is so appealing to look at, using a minimal amount of lines and an amazing use of colors. It's simply beautiful stuff that, for this reader, really makes the book. That's not to slight the writer Kel Symons in any way. His story feels like it will be solid adventure writing and his characters are almost instantly likeable, with the Frenchman Jarreau leading the pack for this brain. But Reynolds' work is the real star of the book. It's so non-traditional and atypical, and is nicely layered. He replicates camera focus techniques, making the foreground sharp and the background blurry or lighter colored, giving depth to the frame and giving it sort of a faux 3-D effect. It's a unique style, and one that reminds me of Richard Corben. Not the style itself, but the impact it has on the reader. Stunning is probably the best single word to use to describe his art on this book.
Symons and Reynolds have assembled a great first issue. This looks like it will be a series to pay attention too. The quality of this book is far above the average and I can't wait to see where it goes.
