Going into this issue I wasn’t too sure what I’d have to say about this series. I did just sum up all my joy and excitement for the past four issues with the last review and by that point the series had fallen into a steady routine. Sure it was very interesting and I wanted to read more, but I felt like I knew what to expect as far as the pacing and when the action beats would happen. Boy was I wrong. I mean this issue surprised the hell out of me. Let’s start with the cover since that reveal is exactly where our story begins. You see that there is a second White House… yeah. If you’ve been following the series then you know the only person that’s bold enough or would even feel the need to build a second White House so I won’t say. The FBI is in the process of scoping out the compound. The Agent in charge has planned their strike for 4am hoping to have the advantage against the ex-Navy Seals and Special Ops agents that are employed inside. I’m not going to tell you anything else about this scene, but it is pretty sweet.
In space we stick with our two dudes that approached the asteroid and jumped through a portal in the last issue. As much as the space side of the story is enjoyable, this break from the entire group was refreshing and needed. Pritchard begins studying these flying drill bit looking things when he accidentally touches one when it expands without him realizing it. This sends Pritchard flying and he ends up cracking his helmet! The Lieutenant covering him begins fighting for their lives as the drill bits go into kill mode.
This issue was very refreshing. It’s not that the series had gone stale, but as I said I felt that I had a good grasp on the pacing and plot/action beats. Really up until this point the story bounced between the President and the members of the Clarke. It was a good back and forth, but the story was primarily moved forward by the President. When it went to the Clarke we just knew that we would be checking in with each member of the team.
By breaking the routine, Charles Soule has offered intrigue into the rest of the story. What is happening on the Clarke? For the first time I want to know rather than just assuming I’ll be told. The dialogue is as solid as ever. The banter between the FBI agents and even the brief appearance from the President are prime examples of the strength in Soule’s dialogue.
The art does work. By that I mean that artist Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque takes us to two new locations and amazes with both. The second White House was full of incredible scenes and really changed my reality of this story. Suddenly it has this incredible action side to it and that goes right into the space side of the story as well. While the impending doom and danger wasn’t as thick, it was still intense to see the Lieutenant go ape on the drill bits.
There were some grand scenes and Dan Jackson on coloring brought it all home. The asteroid was awesome looking as Jackson’s coloring gave it a strange vibe. It looked vibrant and real, but at the same time alien and fake. More so it felt like the characters were some where no one had been before and that was great to see and feel from the art and coloring.
I didn’t run to read this issue this week and I kind of wish I had. I won’t be making that mistake again and if you’re in the same boat as me then you should do the same. If you’re not reading this book then you really should check it out. It has a dash of some many genres that it’s bound to hit something you’re interested in.
Score: 5/5
Writer: Charles Soule Artist: Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque Colorist: Dan Jackson Publisher: Oni Press Price: $3.99 Release Date: 3/19/14