Poor Bryan Michael Andrews. Not only has he broken up with the girl that might be his one true love; not only has he been spurned by her, but after a few drinks he ends up dead after wrecking his car. Up steps his own personal reaper in the shape of Jessica Harrow, who is a tad amnesiac when it comes to her own death. Trying to help Bryan complete his journey to the afterlife is due to cause Jessica a whole bunch of problems in a cat and mouse affair that might literally be the death of her……again!
Stephanie Phillips, of Harley fame, delivers a book that looks to examine loss in its various forms. In Bryan Phillips gives the reader something of a hapless, unlucky stiff to act as an anchor. Jessica is the seemingly know it all, but actually knows not a lot. With this coupling, there is a prime opportunity to use Bryan as a sounding board, of sorts, educating the reader. Phillips does this well, not straying into exposition through the use of a variety of familiar death and afterlife related locales and situations. There are other influences on show, but to name them could spoil some of the surprise in the book, so I will; leave you to find out for yourselves.
The art is supplied by Flaviano who produces a book that looks great. I love the design of Jessica, with its Spider-Woman touches from a few years back. Through in a scythe instead of a hammer or baseball bat and you can see other influences. Flaviano, thanks to Phillips’ script and plotting, gets to re-image a choice of locations. Flaviano’s art feels a touch cartoony, maybe in an abstract manner which highlights the ghostly going ons, though the detailed faces tend to ensure that the right emotion be it fear, confusion or something in-between. Flaviano is helped out immensely by the gorgeous, and spooky, colors from Rico Renzi. Renzi makes the most of the spirit leaving the body, utilising bolder colors in certain situations encapsulates Bryan’s journey well. Tom Napolitano’s letters seems a little disjointed, less formal than his other work. Finally, Jenny Frison drops a gorgeous cover, but of course, what would expect, right?
This is a great, fun read that takes a bunch of well known ideas and thoughts of death and the reaper, mixes them around to produce something new. Under the clever writing of Phillips and the gorgeous art of Flaviano, death and dying has never been as fun or looked as good.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
Overall – 5 Stars
Written by; Stephanie Phillips
Art by; Flaviano
Colors by; Rico Renzi
Letters by; Tom Napolitano
Cover A by; Jenny Frison
Published by; BOOM! Studios
Author Profile
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I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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