Soulfire #1
Reviewed by David O' Leary
Story
by: J.T. Krul
Art by: Marcus To & Saleem Crawford
Colours by: Beth Sotelo & John Starr
Letters by: Josh Reed
Cover by: Marcus To
Publisher: Aspen Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Cover Date: November 2009
Book Summary:
Just when you thought the magic was over...The spectacle returns in the wondrous second volume of the acclaimed fantasy adventure epic - Soulfire! With the events of the climactic finale of Soulfire volume one still resonating across the futuristic landscape of technology and the returning magic, battle lines have been drawn between the two opposing elements -- and only one will prevail! How can the world hope to survive a fight it can never win?
Reviewer's Comments:
"Buzzkill"
This is Aspen's flagship title and the late great Michael Turner's great contribution to comics. I was never a real Aspen reader until he died and I decided to fall in headfirst and see what it was all about. Shrugged, I loved. Fathom is cool and Soulfire is on another planet.
JT Krul is a busy man. He has done the JLA 80 page giant and Blackest Night: Titans as well as this recently. He finished the final few issues of the last volume so it made sense for him to open this one. This is the second issue of volume two after a zero issue last month. It opens a few months after the end of the first volume in 2212 where magic is now restored but it not in the public eye too much yet. We see the beginning of the issue in China where a close call takes place where a Chinese parade is attacked by a young dragon but is saved from harm by Grace who admits concern that the public at large are not ready to know that magic has retuned. The remainder of the cast are off the coast of Australia on a junk continent named the Eight Continent foraging for vital parts and looking for Gabriel when they are met by a group claiming squatters rights of sorts to the land and material and also who claim to represent Gabriel. The meeting inevitably ends in violence with no meeting with Gabriel. PJ and Mal go on a date where they break up a fight between a man and his girlfriend. Malakai is astonished to see that the reason why is that the girl has wings and a sub plot is born! It is a little obvious to not miss the X-Men style point of Grace trying to be an intermediary trying to gain acceptance for those who are different but let's not let it get taken away from what is turning out to be a very cool story. I admit that I am not completely up to speed on the continuity of this universe but I intend to catch up pretty quickly.
Marcus To who is an Aspen veteran at this stage provides Art chores. This book like just about every issue of this title I have read looks like a piece of art. Just amazing. His line work is tight, clear and linear. The coloring is immaculate and Crawford provides some of the best inks in comics today. The influence of Turner on the at department is immense as his legacy will be far-reaching and respected. One of the best looking pages done by To shows Grace flying in front of the young dragon in full action pose and it shows the full intent of the story and the art team. Great stuff.
The book is remarkably apt at not being too bogged down in its own continuity to allow new readers like myself to fall right in and see what the fuss is about. This is a strong second issue and I will be back to see where the story is going.Rating the Issue
| Story Story: Overall 8 Concept - 8 out of 10 Plot - 8 out of 10 Dialogue - 8 out of 10 |
Art Art: Overall 9 Style - 9 out of 10 Storytelling - 9 out of 10 Colour/Tones -9 out of 10 |
Importance Importance: Overall 9.33 To the Title - 10 out of 10 To the Company - 10 out of 10 To the Medium - 8 out of 10 |
Take a Look Inside
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Reviewer Bio
Name: David O' Leary
email: idwfan@yahoo.co.uk
Been reading comics: for about 12 years now.
Review Bio: I am a 26-year-old Hotel Manager from the west coast of the Republic of Ireland and think this is a great way to talk to others about this cool medium. I am a husband to one wife and father to one girl (so far).
Favorites: ONI's Whiteout, Vertigo's Scalped and Garth Ennis Preacher and Punisher in Trades. In comic form I am reading a lot of Marvel and a bit of IDW, Dark Horse & WildStorm among others.
Website: Sorry, I don't have one!
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