Post by codystarbuck on Sept 22, 2018 1:29:29 GMT -5
Recently, I was sent the comic, Possession, from British publisher AAM-Markosia. I'm always up for checking out something new and thought I would share the series. Possession has story by Michael Norwitz and Mary Ann Vaupel, with art by Enrico Carnevale, colors by Andre Blanco, letters by HdE and script edited by Mad Moll Green. It also carries a dedication to the memory of Steve Whitaker.
Possession is an interesting mix of genres; it's got a bit of mystery, some fantasy/supernatural elements, parallels to Greek mythology, and some slices of life, via characters with real personalities. The first thing that strikes me is the cover image, with the gods Ares and Aphrodite in the background, holding what appears to be playing figures of our protagonists, the man and woman standing back to back, below, as if about to face combat. This already had my interest, as a long fan of mythological tales and adventure fiction. It promised both the traditions of the gods and their interference into the lives of mortals, as well as the "buddy cop" story, found in mysteries and adventure fiction. The cover promised action and intrigue and made me want to peek inside.
The opening splash page had me hooked visually, as it is filled with little details that bring things to life, in the buildings and the streets, as well as in the characters and how they move through the scene. The corner newsstand seems to be a nexus for our story and it's a great place to start.
The story unfolds slowly, as we are first introduced to the characters and the city in which they live. Newsvendor Rusty and his corner stand seems to be a crossroads for characters to come into play. The story centers around employees of and business partners of Golden State Electric & Gas. Corporate Security officer Javier Sanchez is asked by Operations Manager Lelani Chance to investigate the disappearance of files related to allegations against the wife of Miles Ames, whose company is a major partner of GSE & G. Ames himself has an even closer relationship with Lelani, as she is having an affair with him and asks Javier to take the case, as a personal favor, despite his objections and reservations. He does so and we learn that he has a history with Ames' wife Astrid, and knows the truth of the allegations and her secrets. His investigation takes him to Ames' home and corporate headquarters, where an encounter with a suspect leads to a further encounter with a couple of monstrous figures. Our other lead character, as yet unnamed, is a woman who we first meet at a punk bar, where she defends an old man, Zeke, who is trying to get a drink and is accosted by punk bullies. Earlier, we saw Zeke cleaning Rusty's newsstand for food. The woman will turn up to try to help Javier, when he runs into the monster men.
The layouts in the comic are fairly standard grids; but, Carnevale fills his world with details and has an expressive way with the characters. He has a subtle way with body language and movement that many comic artists never develop. He also tells a damn good visual story. The side tales of Ares and Aphrodite are done in a pseudo-classic Greek style, while the rest of the tale is pure modern life There is real humanity in his figures, which is aided by very good writing. The characters have personality and real human tics. One of the characters we meet, Cora, a cat obsessed, socially awkward, large-figured woman. We first see her at Rusty's, as he entices her with a cat magazine and then as she shows Javier a picture of one of her cats. She is later seen setting up for a meeting of her cat club, at the local library, where she interacts with Bertrand, a handsome man who flirts with her and of whom she has sexual fantasies (which get some graphic detailing).
There is a lot of mystery here, as we are in the introductory phase of the story; meeting the characters and setting up the central plot of the story. The mystery had me hooked and I am intrigued to see how the mythological story intersects with the modern tale. Is it a metaphorical device, designed to add a dimension to the characters and events, or is it a more direct set-up for their involvement with the characters? We are teased that Ames is up to some dirty business transactions and his wife has a hidden past. What exactly is that past and is it the cause of the missing files or is it Ames' business dealing? The protective woman is just introduced and we want to learn more. We meet a financial analyst, who speaks to a young, female spectral figure. Is that a real ghostly interaction or is it a manifestation of her mind? Are the monster goons a figment of the imagination or real monsters? Lots of questions that need answers and it makes me want to read more.
There is some real meat here. You have some developed characters and intriguing mysteries going on, and a cast that intersects in varied ways. There is sharp storytelling going on here. It's not as flashy as some books out there; but, it is more satisfying to the brain. If you like a good mystery, enjoy "real" characters, a bit of fantasy & the supernatural, and don't have issues with more adult depictions of sexual situations, than this is definitely worth a look. The comic is available, digitally, through Comixology and DriveThru Comics.
Just one note; I mentioned adult depictions of sex. That is a loaded statement. This is not an erotic work, where sex is a central element, ala Milo Manara or Howard Chaykin's Black Kiss. This is an adult story that includes adult things, such as sexual encounters and fantasies. Sex is part of life and sexual fantasy common to most adults. Some people find it to be a problem when it is presented in visual form. There is more suggestion here, though there is nudity. It is not extremely graphic, though it might garner an R rating, if it were film. Quite frankly, the average episode of Game of Thrones is more explicit than anything you will see here.
Hats off to the creative team for crafting a fine and intriguing first issue.
Possession is an interesting mix of genres; it's got a bit of mystery, some fantasy/supernatural elements, parallels to Greek mythology, and some slices of life, via characters with real personalities. The first thing that strikes me is the cover image, with the gods Ares and Aphrodite in the background, holding what appears to be playing figures of our protagonists, the man and woman standing back to back, below, as if about to face combat. This already had my interest, as a long fan of mythological tales and adventure fiction. It promised both the traditions of the gods and their interference into the lives of mortals, as well as the "buddy cop" story, found in mysteries and adventure fiction. The cover promised action and intrigue and made me want to peek inside.
The opening splash page had me hooked visually, as it is filled with little details that bring things to life, in the buildings and the streets, as well as in the characters and how they move through the scene. The corner newsstand seems to be a nexus for our story and it's a great place to start.
The story unfolds slowly, as we are first introduced to the characters and the city in which they live. Newsvendor Rusty and his corner stand seems to be a crossroads for characters to come into play. The story centers around employees of and business partners of Golden State Electric & Gas. Corporate Security officer Javier Sanchez is asked by Operations Manager Lelani Chance to investigate the disappearance of files related to allegations against the wife of Miles Ames, whose company is a major partner of GSE & G. Ames himself has an even closer relationship with Lelani, as she is having an affair with him and asks Javier to take the case, as a personal favor, despite his objections and reservations. He does so and we learn that he has a history with Ames' wife Astrid, and knows the truth of the allegations and her secrets. His investigation takes him to Ames' home and corporate headquarters, where an encounter with a suspect leads to a further encounter with a couple of monstrous figures. Our other lead character, as yet unnamed, is a woman who we first meet at a punk bar, where she defends an old man, Zeke, who is trying to get a drink and is accosted by punk bullies. Earlier, we saw Zeke cleaning Rusty's newsstand for food. The woman will turn up to try to help Javier, when he runs into the monster men.
The layouts in the comic are fairly standard grids; but, Carnevale fills his world with details and has an expressive way with the characters. He has a subtle way with body language and movement that many comic artists never develop. He also tells a damn good visual story. The side tales of Ares and Aphrodite are done in a pseudo-classic Greek style, while the rest of the tale is pure modern life There is real humanity in his figures, which is aided by very good writing. The characters have personality and real human tics. One of the characters we meet, Cora, a cat obsessed, socially awkward, large-figured woman. We first see her at Rusty's, as he entices her with a cat magazine and then as she shows Javier a picture of one of her cats. She is later seen setting up for a meeting of her cat club, at the local library, where she interacts with Bertrand, a handsome man who flirts with her and of whom she has sexual fantasies (which get some graphic detailing).
There is a lot of mystery here, as we are in the introductory phase of the story; meeting the characters and setting up the central plot of the story. The mystery had me hooked and I am intrigued to see how the mythological story intersects with the modern tale. Is it a metaphorical device, designed to add a dimension to the characters and events, or is it a more direct set-up for their involvement with the characters? We are teased that Ames is up to some dirty business transactions and his wife has a hidden past. What exactly is that past and is it the cause of the missing files or is it Ames' business dealing? The protective woman is just introduced and we want to learn more. We meet a financial analyst, who speaks to a young, female spectral figure. Is that a real ghostly interaction or is it a manifestation of her mind? Are the monster goons a figment of the imagination or real monsters? Lots of questions that need answers and it makes me want to read more.
There is some real meat here. You have some developed characters and intriguing mysteries going on, and a cast that intersects in varied ways. There is sharp storytelling going on here. It's not as flashy as some books out there; but, it is more satisfying to the brain. If you like a good mystery, enjoy "real" characters, a bit of fantasy & the supernatural, and don't have issues with more adult depictions of sexual situations, than this is definitely worth a look. The comic is available, digitally, through Comixology and DriveThru Comics.
Just one note; I mentioned adult depictions of sex. That is a loaded statement. This is not an erotic work, where sex is a central element, ala Milo Manara or Howard Chaykin's Black Kiss. This is an adult story that includes adult things, such as sexual encounters and fantasies. Sex is part of life and sexual fantasy common to most adults. Some people find it to be a problem when it is presented in visual form. There is more suggestion here, though there is nudity. It is not extremely graphic, though it might garner an R rating, if it were film. Quite frankly, the average episode of Game of Thrones is more explicit than anything you will see here.
Hats off to the creative team for crafting a fine and intriguing first issue.
