By Dustin Cabeal
I’m sure there are people out there not even giving this book a chance because it’s Frank Cho and blah, blah, comic drama, blah, blah variant covers, blah, blah spider butt. If I completely disagreed with his stance I probably wouldn’t review this series at all, but I have a lengthy opinion on the state of comic fandom, and it’s not going to fit in this review. My point for bringing all this up is that if you thought Frank Cho was just going to be illustrating boobs and butts in this comic, you are most definitely wrong.
The series follows three children of Lazarus that immortal. They’re also suicidal because all immortals are now suicidal in stories. We’re following Thomas Skybourne who’s sister was actually killed, and now he’s either looking for revenge or death… maybe both. As was obvious in the first issue, they’re battle Merlin, who is looking for a Pandora’s gate. That’s pretty much everything you need to know about the series up to this point.
Other than a lot of exposition that this comic seems to love, my one and only problem is the mixing of mythologies. It’s not that I’m opposed to it, but find a clever way to explain all of them existing together rather than “they just do.” That’s what it feels like at times, that we’re just being asked to accept all the different mythologies and not question it.
The pacing of the story is quick and easy to follow. Though there’s a bit of exposition this time around while Thomas explains Merlin’s backstory, the rest of the issue moves quickly. The dialogue is vintage Cho in that he sprinkles bygone era witticisms into the story making it funny and cheeky.
As for the illustrations, well it’s Frank Cho. While I’ll always prefer his artwork in all black and white, his style has been adapted to color quite well this time around. It’s photorealistic but full of fun visuals like the dude with the eyepatch and scar. Cho plays to his strengths, muscles, dinosaurs and facial hair. My point is, it’s a great looking book and one that also looks like a portfolio of Cho’s strengths at the same time.
Skybourne is a romp, plain and simple. It’s just out to have a good time. Sure there’s a sense of a deeper story around Thomas and his dead wife and murdered sister, but in the end, it’s just action adventure fun in a way that only Cho can do.
Score: 4/5
Skybourne #3 (of 5)
Creator: Frank Cho
Publisher: BOOM! Studio