SINK #4 of 5 (Comix Tribe, January 24, 2018 release date) “Young Team”. Story by John Lees. Art by Alex Cormack. Colours by Alex Cormack & Lisa Moore. Letters by Shawn Lee. Logo by Tim Daniel.
Welcome back, horror comic aficionados, to Sinkhill.
What have we learned after three issues about the coarse and sordid fictional borough of Glasgow, Scotland? 1) Don’t wander strange streets in the hours between late night and early morning, 2) There may yet be some life in the afterlife, and 3) You can’t take the city out of its’ residents, even if they move away and start over.
What must it be like to grow up in a place like Sinkhill? Do the youth become acclimatized to the callousness and savagery that surrounds them? Do they turn numb to the ruthlessness? Are they desensitized and indifferent to Sinkhill; or must they conform or die?
Sink #4 allows us a peek at a quartet of young students in a formative moment, one that will shape and mold their values as well as influence their behavior. The Fantastic Four were physically altered and came together as the result of an accident in space. The Young Team were transformed by what happened in the alleys, abandoned lots, and vacant warehouses of Sinkhill. They are a product of the streets, not outer space.
The story begins in the classroom and ends in the classroom. As page one opens, a teacher speaks to a roomful of students following a disturbing incident. We don’t see a full profile of the teacher, which makes us as apathetic towards his character as the appearances of some of the bored and distracted students facing him would seem to indicate. When we do get a partial glimpse of his ruddy face, his weathered appearance reveals he’s been in a few scraps himself. Maybe those light facial scars were inflicted by some in the class.
One of their fellow students has gone missing over the weekend. Cut to a telling image of an empty desk and chair. The teacher speaks of community and empathy, and does his best to curb the class gossip regarding abduction by a blue van full of maniac clowns. (See SINK #1 for their first appearance.) He’s ineffective.
After school, four classmates gather in the courtyard to swap stories of other kidnappings and mysterious van appearances while discussing what to do. Their leader, Hardeep, decides they will hunt the clowns down and kill them before any more youngsters go missing. He’s joined in the search by Jake, Craig and Sarah.
Hardeep works hard to assert himself and act like the strongest of the set. Jake exhibits introvert tendencies due to apathetic parents, and seeks acceptance. Craig is plagued by imaginary killer clowns that interrupt his sleep each night, and is hesitant to join the search and confront his greatest fear. Sarah just wants to be treated as an equal, and has to prove she has more “baws” than the boys.
Their search leads to an abandoned factory, where they meet the next teacher - - Mr. Dig. The fox-masked vigilante (also from Issue #1) is busy interrogating a bound gang member while brandishing his weapon of choice, a sturdy metal shovel. Mr. Dig’s teaching style differs from the classroom, through physical/punishing example. He’s upfront and in-your-face, preferring to instruct through visceral visuals.
You’ll want to read the rest of the story without any further prompts from me. It usually ends bloody in Sinkhill. There’s even a twist ending to finish with a Twilight Zone aftertaste.
***
SINK #4 shows up on shelves tomorrow, as long as your local comics shop ordered some copies. Expect a sell-out and get there early. Smart readers pre-ordered their copy.
However, if you can’t do either of those things you have one more option this time. Comix Tribe on Thursday, one day after release, will be offering copies of SINK #4 for sale on their website. Don’t hesitate here either, as they will only have a limited number of copies available. Go to: http://www.comixtribe.com
RATING SYSTEM
STORY: Mr. Dig does try to convey the right and proper message, but this is Sinkhill where things often take a different turn. 3 POINTS.
ART: Great images throughout. Telling facial expressions. Graphic violence, all splashed with lots of red. 3 POINTS.
COVER: Simple and attention getting. 2 POINTS.
READ AGAIN? I want to. You will too. 1 POINT.
RECOMMEND? Yes. The whole series deserves more attention. 1 POINT.
TOTAL RATING: 10 POINTS. This series has been a very pleasant surprise. Great concept. Memorable stories.
No comments:
Post a Comment