Advance Review: Angelic #1
Seems that trends in comics, and also in other media, comes and goes. At the moment, fans are going bananas over the latest “War for the Planet of Apes” showing that when it comes to our simian counter parts, there is no monkeying around. With this in mind it comes as no surprise that an alternative take on the animal kingdom is due to hit the shops in September.
Qora is the young female flying monkey through which we are introduced to killer dolphins, cybernetic cats and of, more flying monkey’s as the tribe strives to fit within the social environment of enhanced animals that now rule the world, whilst cementing its own brand of religion and caste. It is these shackles that Qora is looking to challenge, not wanting to follow tribal law by becoming wingless and become the tree living spouse of someone she doesn’t love. Along the way she will find her world view tested as she meets new friends and even deadlier foes.
For fans on both sides of the Atlantic, Simon Spurrier is something of a comics superstar, with work covering 2000 A.D and X-Men amongst others. Here, Spurrier is on full tilt creator mode, giving us good guys in the shape of flying monkeys that we have been programmed to dislike, thanks to the Wizard of Oz and making the normally trustworthy and friendly dolphins one of the many antagonists. I only wish that the ‘Fins from Miami were as deadly! Creating a whole world from scratch is no mean feat. Spurrier gives the various characters a dialogue that uses a Pidgeon-English style that helps explain some of the type of life that the animals face. For some this will be a great touch; for others, its can get a tad repetitive. Still it is a great way to tell the reader what is going on and also to show the youth of Qora.
Casper Wijngaard provides the art in style that has an almost animation feel to it. Under Wijngaard’s detail focused art, the world is shown to have cities overrun by jungles, which of course suits the monkeys. Detailed background to one side for the moment, the characters have an almost child-like structure, which may well appeal to younger readers. The monkeys for example are given thick inks, the cat is a scavenger that has a tough exterior which goes a long to deliver a visual message that generally works.
This then is the main strength of the book; cartoon style art coupled with almost adult language that delivers some pretty mature messages, gender equality and roles to name a couple. In Angelic, Image may well be looking to foster a book that can promote some of the challenges that we face in the real world, to a younger, more impressionable audience in the hope that they can build a better future. We just need to make sure that the target audience actually enters a comic book shop.
Angelic #1 is due out in September, from wherever quality books are sold.
Writing:- 4 Stars
Art: 4 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Story:Â Simon Spurrier
Art / Cover:Â Caspar Wijngaard
Published: September 20, 2017
Diamond ID: JUL170699
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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