With this idea firmly planted in your own experiences, maybe we should feel a little sorry for Michael Blackburn. His job was to infiltrate a secret off world colony, determine the dangers, create a beachhead and then return home to report. Seems OK, right? A tad dangerous maybe, but surely a man of Blackburn won’t get captured, avoid torture and need the help of a disaffected young murderess to stage a reckless breakout on foot across a wild cityscape filled with generational crazies that only want to hunt him down and kill him?
Warren Ellis is in full chaotic world creation mode. In Blackburn, Ellis gives us a character whose chattiness belies the seriousness of situation. Of course, the affectation of chit-chat also gives the reader an insight into the off-world and the old-world, with comparisons abound. The reflections of Blackburn’s world sound familiar, a passable version of ours probably. Ellis’s script and dialogue works best at its frenetic pace; one minute you have no idea what is going on. Then with a flash of blurb and humour, you get a greater understanding of this world. This run is scheduled for seven issues, so there may be a concern that Ellis will punch himself out. With a writer of Ellis’ obvious talent, I don’t think that will happen, especially as there will no doubt be a rash of new dangers that no doubt await Blackburn.
The art is supplied by Jason Howard, who has had a number of books published by Image Comics. Howard’s art has a square block style that reminds me of the old British war comics to some extent, with Cam Kennedy influences also evident. There is also an element of less is more on display, when it comes to some of the frameworks which is in contrast to some of the more detailed faces. Howard also excels at giving the reader a vision of a new / old world that seems a bit grungy at first, before Blackburn manages to see some of the exterior of the world, which unlike the prison, is coloured with contrasts. Fonografiks supply the letters for the book with a nice easy to read font, that allows the dialogue and the art to make the biggest impression.
When it comes to comic creators, there are only a few that can change their style of story and still deliver the goods. Warren Ellis is definitely one of those, having written superhero books across the aisle as well as a host of indie and alternative books. Coupled with Jason Howard, the pair have created a world that bears some investigating. Luckily for us, we have Michael Blackburn and his violent tour guide to going exploring with.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art & Colors – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Written by; Warren Ellis
Art by; Jason Howard
Letters by; Fonografiks
Published by; Image Comics
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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