EDITOR’S NOTE: Once things return to normal following the coronavirus crisis, most of us are going to be on limited budgets. I seriously doubt real comics fans are going to give up their hobby, but they’ll need to be more selective and will probably pass up some books they might normally pick up.
That’s probably going to hurt the smaller indie publishers more than the Big Two, and that would be a shame.
As a comics blogger, I sometimes get advance review copies of upcoming books. I’m going to try to review as many as possible and post them here early enough that readers can then make informed decisions about their purchase choices. Even more important, comic shops are going to need their customer base to step up and pre-order as much as possible. I’m concerned that many books that deserve an audience won’t benefit because comic shops are going to cut back on quantity, and probably not going to bring in a book they have no pre-orders for.
I'll be using the PROJECT F.O.C.US header to draw attention to these pre-release reviews. I hope you'll come to trust my opinions, and will use these to make informed choices about what books to pre-order and assist your local comic shop in managing their assets. The F.O.C. in F.O.C.US stands for Final Order Cutoff. I just love acronyms that allow me to make a pun at the same time.
ARTEMIS & THE ASSASSIN #4 (Aftershock Comics, release date August 19 and final order cutoff Monday, July 27) “We Don’t Ask Why”. Stephanie Phillips, writer. Francesca Fantini, artist. Lauren Affe, colorist. Troy Peteri, letter. Phil Hester, Bruce McCorkindale & Mark Englert, cover.
After four issues of ARTEMIS & THE ASSASSIN, one thing is for certain: I don’t want this to end after five issues. Writer Stephanie Phillips has created a complex and delightfully engaging world, full of action, suspense and character development. It would be a shame to last just one five-issue story arc. Here’s my early vote for more, please.
Another thing that separates this from a lot of mini-series: you can pick up a random issue of this book out of sequence and still be pulled into the story and pick up enough background information from the action and dialogue to not be confused. Like the best old-time movie serials, every issue ends on a cliff-hanger.
The action this issues occurs in Egypt 2200 B.C.E., the Wild West of Arizona 1975, some long-forgotten empires of 261 B.C.E. and New York City, timeline unknown.
After WWII resistance fighter Virginia Hall (codename Artemis) rescues and heals a wounded Maya (time-traveling assassin), Maya returns the favor - - twice. For as much as the two strong women are at odds, they learn they have much in common, and further strengthen their bond through a “competition over whose life is worse.” They both have dealt with pain, isolation and abandonment.
Maya shares her 3,000 year old history with Virigina, beginning with her origins in 261 B.C.E. and a war of empires over The Nine, the greatest minds of the time and the books of knowledge they created. Her connection to Isak is explained, although his motives are questioned and the two women may be ready to end their bickering and unite to set things right.
One of my favorite books of 2020. FIVE STARS out of a possible FIVE.
No comments:
Post a Comment