For those that have been reading Valiant for a while, you will no doubt recognise the importance of the Book of the Geomancer. With the powers within the book shifting signalling the threat of the incursion, Tama and Gilad have a lot to contend with. Still, Gilad has his trusty ax (like Steve has his shield?) and Tama is a Geomancer so they should be able to handle themselves, right? Well we are getting this four issue series to find out!
Andy Diggle, a comic book veteran, is joined by Alex Paknadel who has been wooing fans and critics alike with Friendo and the pair chart a path through the familiar tropes with a certain style that incorporates any number of influences from Galactus to Stranger Things. The idea of a planet eater isn’t new, but in Tama the Geomancer, there is a logical counter balance that also acts as the focal point; who else is better equipped to keep the planet alive in order for it to be fed upon? Putting the logic of the threat to one side for the moment; I am not a big fan of the whole Geomancer element that was added to Gilad’s story. Sure, I understand why the powers that be had to add something, after all what keeps an immortal man putting one foot in front of the other. In other words, he needed a focus. Whilst I disagree with this particular deus ex machina, it has been in place for a while now and Diggle and Paknadel have to play the cards they have been dealt. The dialogue is pretty good; there are three distinct voices in play throughout the story, with those being the seductive tones of Impartrix Virago, the world-weary Gilad and the know-it-all but really not-knowing-anything Tama.
The art for the book is provided by Valiant mainstay Doug Braithwaite whose pencils are going for the epic style of story telling. Braithwaite does great when it comes to the alien world and its ecosystem, especially seeing as we get to see it at its demise rather than in its glory. Throw in Earth and already you have to recognise the level of details that has been put into the panels. Of course next issue we are heading into the Deadside, so I expect things to get even better. Braithwaite pulls out all the stops, so it’s a shame that the quality of some of the figure work doesn’t carry across, especially some of the larger panels of Gilad. On the flip, the interaction between the kids, and the dialogue that is used, is probably some of the strongest parts of the book. Helping the aesthetic of the book are the painted color styles of Jose Villarrubia and Diego Rodriguez. The tones of the characters are expertly crafted by letterer Marshall Dillon.
I have said previously that I am not the biggest Valiant fan in the world. I don’t know why to be honest; it must clearly be a “me thing, not a them thing”. Yet looking at this book, reading the quality of the writing, I am not surprised that have carved for themselves a piece of the comic book reader pie.
Writing – 4 Stars
Art – 4 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Written by; Andy Diggle & Alex Paknadel
Art by; Doug Braithwaite
Colors by; Jose Villarrubia & Diego Rodriguez
Letters by; Marshall Dillon
Published by; Valiant Entertainment
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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