Shutter has continued to bring it month in and month out. But if that was not enough, the story reached its series best with the previous Issue #7. It had everything that issue; action, violence, humor. And it was all wrapped up in a nice pretty visual package. After reading it, I wasn’t quite sure if writer Joe Keatinge and artist Leila del Duca could match the thunder that they brought during the last installment. It boomed with hell bent reckless abandon. What they gave me in Issue #8 was pretty damned close. Maybe this one was not quite as great as the last one. But it definitely is up there in the “good” realm of issues and it even had a little more darker tone than some of the previous installments. I recommend it as we are getting a continuing dosage of everything that you could expect in a super fantastical comic taking place in a world much more “fantastic than the one (we) know”. And like the back page featuring gator brothers Darren and Ricky, I am showing lots of teeth grinning as I read and giving a thumbs up.
Things start off in #8 with a nice little tribute to Sunday newspaper funny pages. We see parodies of Peanuts, Garfield, Family Circus, Fox Trot and others all paying homage to one of the events occurring in the last issue regarding the very popular Alarm Clock Cat. Reality sets in quick after this brief prelude however, as repercussions from #7 sets in pretty hard. Mr. Cat had gone all commando in #7 and suffered a pretty nasty wound to say the least. He is dealing with his wounds and not doing too well. As for our story’s protagonist Kate, she also is having to deal with wounds both physical and mental from the last issue as she now is a captive of her sister and she is being given some hard truths that she appears not ready to really deal with at this time. Things are slowly starting to roll out and some decisions will have to be made that I know I can’t wait to see where they go.
The one great thing I can say about this title is that I have abso(freaking)lutely no idea where things are going. When I think I have things figured out, I am giving a curve ball that continuously keeps me guessing. It is a true credit to the writing skill of Keatinge as he has flown with this title full throttle. I can’t get enough of it.
Matching that breakneck intensity has been del Duca’s unbelievable art. She can make her renderings come to life in every frame. Whether it is the aforementioned gator brothers, Kate, her sister, or any other sort of old monstrosity that appears throughout. All have a living quality about them that makes it work. Hell, even Alarm Clock Cat feels alive and he is missing some parts at this point and time.
As this issue ends, we are left with yet another cliffhanger not knowing what will happen. The only thing for sure is that we will receive more interesting art from del Duca, more trippy dialogue from Keatinge, and more serious entertainment from this Shutter title. I’m loving it guys. You are on a roll.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Joe Keatinge Artist: Leila Del Duca Colorist: Owen Gieni Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 1/14/15 Format: Ongoing; Print/Digital