Guest Review: Matt Lowder Looks At EXTREMITY Volume One

Guest review by Run The Comics 5K's MATT LOWDER . . . . .

EXTREMITY, VOLUME ONE (Image / Skybound, 2017) Collects Issues #1-6. My rating: FIVE out of a possible FIVE STARS.

Profound, grand, intimate, and visionary - - this is one of the best limited series I read all year. The six issues are seamless. I was unable to tell where one ends and the next begins.

EXTREMITY is a gore party about family, revenge, indigenous fictitious sci-fi civilizations, clashes of power, war machines, histories of violence, tradition, mankind's weaknesses, virtues, purpose, honor, fathers, sons, daughters, and so much more. Never being preachy. Plot-driven, action-oriented, stellar character archetypes, and just brilliant. This should be at the top of your list to try in 2021.

I've talked before about the "doorways of reading". All readers usually prefer two of these aspects over the other two, and most stories can afford to spend time doing two, maybe three, truly well:

1. CHARACTER.

2. PLOT.

3. LANGUAGE/DIALOGUE.

4. SETTING.

"Extremity" is the total package. It's poetic, painful, visceral, beautiful, action-packed, and dynamic. The storytelling and forward movement is a masterclass. The use of focal points, negative white space, and various panel sizes are all interesting and effective. The art is good for the subject matter and place, and the colorist did a stunning job beginning with Page One and moving forward. 

Mike Spicer has a large body of great work including Shirtless Bear Fighter, Wonder Woman, Mad Max, Stillwater, The Wicked + Divine, Teen Titans, Shipwreck and more.

I loved this! This trade paperback was the perfect way to round out my year (the day before I'm beginning work on my "end of the year" lists - - for fun). This made the cut. Put it up high on your to-read list for the new year. 5 out of 5.