Last Sons of America #1
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art by Matthew Dow Smith
BOOM! Studios
The premise of Last Sons of America is pretty unique.
The United States has been attacked by a biological agent which has made it impossible for anyone in America to conceive children.
So, not surprising adoption of kids from other counties explodes.
Brothers Jackie and Julian are adoption agents based in Nicaragua. They basically look to pay families to give up a child for adoption.
The brothers have worked through legal means, but they’re facing increasing competition from straight-up kidnappers.
Finally Jack crosses the line, and kidnaps a young girl.
She just happens to be the daughter of a crime lord, and therein is the hook for the rest of the series.
Artist Matthew Dow Smith and writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson have created a book which reminds of books like Criminal or Fatale. The characterization is well-done, shaded in grays, and mature. The art is moody and fitting shady grays of the writing.
This is a book with a lot to like. I fully expect long before the fourth issue hits readers will be wishing it was a much longer series, since this has the chance to be drop drawer material.
Definitely one to check out.
Monstress #1
Written by Marjorie Liu
Art by Sana Takeda
Image Comics
There are not a lot of comics that just blow you away, but Monstress is one of those.
Issue #1 weighs in at more than 60-pages and six pages in I was engrossed in the story, and in love with the art.
Starting with the art Sana Takeda has a ‘high-fantasy’ style, in combination with Japanese manga. It is lavish. It is wonderful.
Marjorie Liu’s story is intriguing. There are elements of magic, demons, strange creatures such as a two-tailed cat that talks, and then some steampunk just to add to the strange.
Maika is the main character, an arcanic (mutated humans with animal features might best describe them). She is on a mission to learn secrets about her mother, or perhaps about her own immense power (when it works).
To get answers she allows herself to be captured and taken to a stronghold of witches, enemies to arcanics.
There is lots of violence, some disturbing references (so yes an adult read), and more questions arise than answers being found, but you expect that in a first issue.
Overall, I was a fan long before reading the final page. This is a gem to be enjoyed for its many facets.
