Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artwork/Lettering: I.N.J. Culbard
Release Date: 21st June 2023

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For those of you who missed it first time around, Wild’s End saw Dan Abnett and I.N.J. Culbard introducing readers to the anthropomorphic inhabitants of Lower Crowchurch as they found themselves slap-bang in the middle of an alien invasion that H.G. Wells himself would be proud of. The series ran for three drama and emotion-packed volumes between 2014 and 2018 before wrapping itself up fairly neatly with the remaining survivors trying their best to settle down and build a new world for themselves.

It’s safe to say we were huge fans of the series here at the Big Comic Page, and absolutely loved its engrossing blend of charm, action and fantastic characters, so when we heard it was making an unexpected comeback with a brand new perspective on the invasion, we knew we simply had to check it out.

Much like the previous series’, Abnett and Culbard deliver a measured beginning to their new story arc here, gradually introducing us to our all-new cast of characters as they set off from the sleepy 1930s coastal town of Gullstone Harbour to do a little deep sea fishing. The cast of characters are all brilliantly realised, each with their own little quirks and motivations, and watching them go about their business on the Merry Beet, completely oblivious to the devastation which is unfolding on the mainland, instantly fosters a strong investment in their plight.

I’ve spoken at length in a variety of previous reviews about my strong affection for Culbard’s distinctive artwork, but it bears repeating here that he is absolutely prefect for the tone and feel of this book.  As I mentioned above, this is an issue that focuses entirely on the characters and their interactions, and despite the new cast being made up of a wide variety of different animals, Culbard does a fantastic job of conveying their various emotions throughout their ultimately futile fishing trip.

As always, Abnett’s regional dialect is beautifully delivered, adding an understated charm and innocence to the proceedings despite the impending sense of doom and the fairly intense subject matter.  I’ll admit that I was briefly skeptical about whether a brand new perspective of the invasion would feel a little pointless, especially when the original series handled things so well, but from what I’ve seen so far I think it’s safe to say that those doubts were well and truly unfounded.  I love these guys already, and it’s going to be fascinating to see how they handle their first encounter with the terrifying walking lamp posts.

A measured beginning to what promises to be yet another cracking series.  Abnett and Culbard bring back their ‘A.A. Milne meets H.G. Wells’ series with a triumphant fanfare, and as before, the blend of engaging characters, high-stakes drama and gorgeous artwork makes this a series that comes highly, highly recommended.

Rating: 4.5/5.

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[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]

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The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson-Adams (aka Ceej)
Article Archive: Ceej Says
You can follow Ceej on Twitter

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