Review by Reading with a Flight Ring, from facebook.com
Project Icarus #3
BlackBox Comics 2020
Written by Andy Owens
Pencilled by Patrick Blaine
Inked by Andy Owens
Coloured by Teo Gonzalez
Lettered by Dezi Sienty
Project Icarus
Max and Liz search for clues into the Blackfire corporation. Max will put his healing ability to the test against a villain that can not only control, but become fire. And what nefarious plan does the Slasher have for our heroes?
Oh this just keeps getting better and better with each issue. Which is precisely what’s supposed to be happening but I just had to say it out loud because I’ll be damned if this did just kick things up a notch. So the Slasher as he was crudely named by the media dosed Max with the serum just to see what would happen, ya know for kicks. He’s also sent out former convicts, okay they’ve “escaped” from prison, after giving them the serum to gain powers. All he wants to do is cause mayhem, panic and chaos. Now that’s not too much to ask for is it?
I am thoroughly enjoying the way that this is being told. From the corporate cover-up and the manhunt for these escaped men to Max going to find a woman who he once arrested for help. All of this creates this crazy atmosphere but Andy is playing this like it’s a home chemistry set that he’s actually mastered. The potion is volatile but stable and we can see and feel the underlying tension being built up within these pages and it’s kind of an adrenaline rush if you ask me. The way we see the story & plot development unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented extremely well. The character development that we see is really quite good. I like seeing how they act and react to the situations and circumstances they find themselves in. The way this is structured is fantastic and how we see the logical progression of the story is believable in so many ways. The pacing is superb and as it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along the way we see how everything works together to create the books ebb & flow.
I am super impressed with what I am seeing within these pages. The Way Max and Liz interact with one another feels refreshing to me. It isn’t forced or strained, it’s two folks who have legitimately found themselves together in a situation beyond their control and watching them together I think is what both of them needed in their lives.
The interiors here are so incredibly on point. I love how the linework is being utilised through its varying weights and with different techniques to bring out the attention to detail that we see. From something as innocuous as being out in casual wear to seeing men strung up with the aftermath of a slice and dice session it doesn’t what it is it all gets the same treatment and it kind of makes me feel chuffed. The way that we see backgrounds being utilised throughout is great as they not only enhance the moment but they also work well within the composition of the panels to bring us depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the book. Kudo’s to the colouring we see as well. I love the gradation effect we see in Liz’s hair and that alongside some of the more traditional uses, colour blocking or just saturation, really help to give this book so even more incredible dimension. How we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is divine as it really showcases a true talent when it comes to understanding colour.
This series is superbly strong, interesting and extremely engaging for the reader. There are surprises galore as well as a few little things that are just these clever little moments which highlight the world we live in today. BlackBox comics are the up and coming books that you need to be aware of because there’s simply no denying the kind of talent that is on display.
