Comic art can be described as many different things, but Revelations truly has beautiful art. I don’t use that word very often, but man I can’t help but be capture by page one with this comic. The exquisite detail with every scene, the muted colors followed by intense fill-ins, and of course the look of Charlie, our main character, all brings me to the exactly the right mood before even opening the issue. Any pictures that can get you on board before even buying your ticket is reason enough to start a new comic. So let’s talk about this mini-series from Boom! Well it is pretty damn good. Detective Charlie gets summoned by his old time friend, Marcel, to investigate a death. The death is a supposed suicide of a Cardinal in the Vatican. His name is Richleau who most people think jumped off of a ledge and pledged to his death. Charlie, since leaving the church, seems to think there is more to this story. Even his best bud, Marcel, who is now a Cardinal, thinks the circumstances look weird. The comic has all sorts of intrigue surrounding it. The setting helps to give it a lot of its excitement. Who doesn’t love a good scandal being covered up by the good guys?
Issue two had lots to say and certainly tells more of Richleau. But our most interesting character goes to Cardinal Toscianni. He gives me the creeps. Most of his moments in this issue are flashbacks being told by witnesses, but this guy is still scary as hell. Another player is introduced and she goes by Lucy Pelliccia, an accountant for the Vatican. She knows a lot of Richleau and the surrounding conspiracies of the church. She will definitely get more evolved as the mini-series goes on.
Charlie and Marcel are up against some pretty heavy hitters and if there is one thing I would not want to stick my nose in it would have to be the Vatican. I am concerned for how Marcel will be treated throughout this series. Clearly the church has something to hide and I hate the potential of someone getting hurt, especially the innocent. We get some flashes of what is actually occurring at the church, but no real suspects besides Toscianni. The evidence is wiped before Charlie arrives, but some hard core covering up is going on.
With all that is going on it is hard to get a grasp on what is the truth. This is one of those comics that you can’t trust anyone. So maybe Marcel, Lucy, or Richleau are all a part of this bigger plan. Charlie could be the root of it all. I doubt this theory has credit, but this is exactly what an untrustworthy comic does to you. I can’t trust anyone! Charlie starts to interview witnesses but with these cases no one can believed. It is switched to guilty till proven innocent. He seems to get a little closer to finding the truth of the Cardinal's death, but I don’t think Charlie is in anyway prepared for what he will most likely find.
Score: 4/5
Writer: Paul Jenkins Artist: Humberto Ramos Publisher: Boom Studios Price: $3.99 Release Date: 2/5/14