Wednesday, October 15, 2014

FEATURE REVIEW, ONI PRESS' THE LIFE AFTER

The Life After

Issues #1 & 2
Publisher: Oni Press
Writer: Joshua Hale Fialkov
Artist: Gabo

The Life After is a book that makes one go ‘Hmm . . . what the hell is going on?’ So far, that is a good thing.

In the first two issues things are interesting, keeping you going and wondering. The lead Character himself is trying to figure out what is going on and we are right there with him.

Things get more interesting, and weirder, in the second issue when LEAD finds himself in a limbo for those who have committed suicide, and his guide is Hemingway. YES, that HEMINGWAY. Only he doesn’t remember committing suicide.

I won’t give anything away, but I loved the ending of the second issue, a little surprising and some people may call blasphemous.

The writing and artwork mesh well together, with the writing being the strongest point for me. The characters are well developed and the mystery of what is going on well handled. The art took a little getting used to, a little rough and gritty. The first issue felt like the artist was developing the style, and the style and look of the art is much better, and more even, in the second issue. It shows a nice level of growth.

This is a good concept that is so far nicely executed. But the problem with this kind of story is not the story, plot or execution, it’s the end game. What is the payoff going to be? Is going to live up to the interesting things going on in these first two issues?

Rating: 6.5

Ace Masters

NOTE: The Life After #4 is on shelves today (10/15), get it!

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