REVIEW: The Joyners #4 (of 4)
The last issue of this series from Boom Studios imprint Archaia, hits the stores this week and with my typical timing, I catch the last issue.
Catch up time; Technology mogul George Joyner has had his attempt to revolutionize American life in the Northern California of 2062 take a bit of a sideways step. Coupled with the ongoing problems he is suffering , or more likely ignoring in his personal life, means that George is about to wake up from his own personal American dream into a possible nightmare.
Co-Creator R.J. Ryan writes an almost soliloquy to family life and the things that we think are important versus the things that actually are.  Ryan’s characters are full of emotion, driven by desires that they wholly commit too. This in turn makes the various choices made all the more real. With the past betrayals still in evidence, it is easy to think that Sonya is in the right; George after all has made his bed, now he needs to live with the repercussions.  True, by focusing on just his success, the greater whole of his family has suffered.  But still, Sonya has started a more intimate aside than  the physical aspect of relationships, one that potentially offers greater rewards. The dialogue has a soft approach with certain characters and a less softer tone, not quite loud, with others, displaying a subtlety of tone that is not easily matched.
Ryan’s partner in co-creator crime is David Marquez who provides the fantastic art. There is a simple, yet elegant style on show that reminds me of the late great Darwyn Cooke, at least around the faces. The simple style works well in tandem with the subtle tone, emphasising the emotive side to the story. The pair have been long time collaborators and as such, as it is with the best pairings, their work shows an ease of comfort, where the reader reaps the benefits. Rounding off the quality of work on show is Kelly Fitzpatrick on colors, who with a pastel styling adds another level of nuance to proceedings.
Looking at the book, I immediately thought of The Jetsons.  Both have a George, both are set in the future and both feature a family. All that’s missing is Astro. However, the vaguest comparisons aside, catching the last issue of a run can be eye-opening and with a book of this quality, it is well worth hitting the back issue rack of your LCS.
Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Publisher: Archaia, an imprint of BOOM! Studios
Writer: R.J. Ryan
Artist: David Marquez
Author Profile
- 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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