I don’t know what it is with this week’s titles, but I hit the jackpot in terms of quality and entertainment. I’ve enjoyed this breakout hit since the first issue, but each issue manages to top the previous. The way the story is set up in this issue is great because it gives you these important scenes in the beginning of the story, but then moves on instantly. They stand on their own and are good, but then something happens later on in the story that reveals how important those scenes are. It’s like seeing the ending first, but you don’t realize it and then when it hits you its mighty fine. After a quick check in with Ivan at the “hospital” we’re back to four weeks earlier. Ivan is riding with Niko and Harumi to what might be a secret Blackhall location. Tons of background info is revealed about the world and it gives some insight into what’s happening in the future and to an extent to what’s happened in the past. They also make Ivan strip to make sure he’s not bugged or tattooed.

Once inside they unlock a strange chamber that Ivan finds due to the radio signal that it’s giving off. Inside they find a corpse, but Ivan says it’s too short to be Blackhall’s body. Harumi also falls under a trance and actually talks to Blackhall himself in the trance. Ivan pulls her back out recognizing that it’s a trance and not a seizure.

I love the amount of information that’s thrown at you with this story. Each issue adds more and more, but it’s never overwhelming. It could just be because the story is well-plotted and interesting making the reader crave more information about the intriguing world.

Writer Andre Sirangelo must have mapped out a lot of the history of this fictional world during his writing. The story benefits from it because the feeling of the world having a history rings true. The issue has some character development as well and you really take a shine to Ivan and Harumi. I don’t see them becoming romantically involved (I could be wrong) but I do feel that they’re going to play an important role in each other’s stories.

You can never get enough of Gabriel Iumazark’s artwork. His illustrations aren’t missing a beat on this series. His clean and yet rough line work that fits the setting of the world. His character designs in particular continue to be a favorite of mine. They have an anime influence and yet a strong European mixture as well. It’s a sight to behold for sure.

It’s still earlier in this eight issue series to jump on. It’s definitely one of the best things that Archaia/Boom is publishing at the moment. The magical element remains there along with the larger mystery that continues to unfold before our eyes.

Score: 4/5

Writer: Andre Sirangelo Artist: Gabriel Iumazark Publisher: Boom/Archaia Entertainment Price: $3.99 Release Date: 7/16/14 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital