Review: The Null Faeries #5

STORY

This week I got my first comic for review from the new company Action Lab, The Null Faeries number 5. I haven’t read any of the Action Lab titles so I’m diving into this book with no prior knowledge of the story. On its surface as one would expect Null Faeries is a story about faeries, and apparently things going on in their society including conflict with other sorts of Fey tribes. This issue introduces a new element, an unexpected one as far as faerie kind are concerned, the human threat.

The story begins with a flash back introducing us to the protagonist, a former Fey commander named Ionantha. She is seemingly retired to a life of research, seeking the origins of magic. Iona (for short) is old and battleworn, bearing scars and no wings unlike the rest of her kind. I can only speculate that she lost them in the service of her tribe and in this story she plays the role of the world weary soldier recalled into duty once more because she is likely the best and most “patriotic”“ of her fellows. The best man for the riskiest job as it were. Its something we have seen before in film and prose but I do like the idea of this trope being explored in the context of a faerie kingdom. The scene however, plays out in a very well trod fashion and it is very familiar with nothing new added, which did make me wish to know more about Tona’s backstory to add a bit more interest to a well tread trope.

Fortunately things livened up a bit with the introduction of the issue’s villain. A human named Bill Karp had accidentally discovered how to perceive the in a most disturbing way and has become addicted to the power of magic and the pixie dust of the faeries. He is an interesting villain in that he is brutal without being thugish and just smart enough to be very dangerous without being a mastermind. His speech and mannerisms reveal him to be common but not stupid and he is purposely and methodically cruel without remorse. If he is a long term villain of the series Karp has the potential to be a chilling one as his plainly stated need for certain things, like the dust and other “tastes”“ as he puts it, fuel his sociopathic tendencies. His casual brutality is mesmerizing in that awful way that we find in the exploration of the lives and practices of most serial killers. You can’t help but feel for the faeries he has captured and wonder ho our heroine is going to overcome such a monster.

ART

Cicconi pulls double duty as author and artist and shows he has an aptitude for both. While he is nowhere near as exciting as a Jim Lee, he is a largely competent story teller. The page flow is and panel layouts are often very good with varied camera angles to add some spice. The character’s lack Lee’s incredible detail but don’t suffer from the sameness of face he is know for. Each character in the story is easily recognizable as their own person. Sometimes the expressions he drawn don’t seem to fit the moment in the scene very well while at other times they do. Cicconi does make up for a somewhat simple style by not skimping on the backgrounds, this guy knows how to set the stage and that is much appreciated.

Sioc’s colors do an admirable job of complementing the artwork and establishing both mood and setting within the story. Its both naturalistic and cartoony with and almost cell shaded approach.

LETTERING

This is another of those rare books where I must mention how much I appreciated the lettering. Wollet is very precise in his placement of text balloons. The important art is never obscured and the sound effects add that extra visceral touch to a scene at hand.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is shaping up to be an interesting story. The art is solid if not celebrity caliber and the storytelling is mostly spot on. Definitely worth a look. 4 out of 5!

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

THE NULL FAERIES #5
Writer/Artist:Â Chad Cicconi
Colors:Â Federico Sioc
Letters: Adam Wollet