Publisher: Image Comics
Writer(s): Kel Symons
Artist: Nathan Stockman
Release Date: 13th May, 2015

I frickin’ knew it! Taken on their own, the preceding handful of issues of this slow-burner haven’t exactly impressed – but it’s always felt there was something grander at play, something being teased in the background.

And with this issue, the series has reached a rather magnificent sprint, and the twist at the end is good enough that it compelled me to go back and re-read the first 4 issues, searching for clues which’re there if you care to look for them. It did take its sweet time getting here, but in retrospect, and taken in proper context, the previous issues are an incredibly admirable feat of restraint. It’s the sort of thing that a less experienced writer might end up botching by blurting out as an end-of-first issue reveal, but Symons builds up the story and world layer by layer, patiently building in pitch for this, the crescendo.

Stockman has also upped his game for this issue – particularly terrific is an underwater sequence which sees our band of heroes square up against a marginally terrifying wyrm, seething with electric blue energy. There’re a couple of moments of slightly odd perspective scattered throughout, but overall, Stock remains an engaging conduit for Symons’ script.

It’s testament to quite how far the story’s come that I’m excited to see what’s in store going forward, and that’s testament to just what a unique and intriguing turn the tale has taken. Go back, grab the first 4 issues, and you’ll ultimately enjoy the hell out of this book.

Rating: 4/5.

The Writer of this piece was: Ross Sweeney
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