Dark Horse Presents #15

Written by Michael Avon Oeming, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Carla Speed McNeil, David Chelsea, Erika Alexander, Tony Puryear, John Layman, Bo Hampton, Robert Tinnell, Arvid Nelson, Nate Cosby, Mike Baron, and Kim W. Anderson
Art by Michael Avon Oeming, Phil Noto, Carla Speed McNeil, David Chelsea, Tony Puryear, Sam Kieth, Bo Hampton, Juan Ferreya, Evan Shaner, Steve Rude, and Kim W. Anderson

At this point, I'm pretty sure I would buy Dark Horse Presents every month just for Carla Speed McNeil's Finder.  Were the rest of the book full of stories by Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams (writing his own work), Jeph Loeb, Rob Liefeld, Mark Bagley, and Chuck Austen, I would probably still buy it, and only read McNeil's story.  That's how good Finder is.

In this newest chapter, Jaeger, stuck in the middle of the conflict over an Ascian burial ground, takes on his role as Sin-Eater, in an act that is equally horrifying and noble.  McNeil has often referred to her brilliant science fiction comic as 'aboriginal sci-fi', and that is clearly what is happening here.  It's very good, very powerful stuff.

This issue of DHP also brings back the series Rex Mundi, in a surprise story featuring Brother Moricant.  I'm not sure what all new readers would get from this comic, but it is nice to see Arvid Nelson and Juan Ferreya working together again, and I've always loved the masks that the brothers of the Inquisition wear.

John Layman and Sam Kieth's Aliens story snaps into focus this month, as we finally get a more solid understanding of the female main character.  Layman is not writing a traditional Aliens story at all here, and it's a bit of a shame that it's taken so long for that to become clear.  Were this a mini-series, that could be read in larger chunks, it would have probably worked better.

Michael Avon Oeming's Wild Rover, which gets the cover this month, also becomes clearer and more interesting, as a dark horror story.  Bo Hampton and Robert Tinnell's Riven jumps up a number of years this issue, and continues to build the groundwork for a successful horror tale.

I'm continuing to get a lot of enjoyment out of Tony Puryear's Concrete Park, which jumps all over the place, but is always an engaging read.

Kim W. Anderson gives us another story of twisted love, which works like an old school EC horror story, updated for the Internet age.  David Chelsea gives us an improvisational story with 'The Girl With the Keyhole Eyes', and the newest chapter of Ghost continues to be decent.

I'm glad that there's so much to enjoy in this series beyond the Finder chapter, which makes this a must-buy.

Rex Mundi #19

Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Juan Ferreyra

After thirty-seven issue, Rex Mundi has drawn to a close. That's a very impressive run for an independent comic which, especially at its inception, did not have any big names attached to it. The book originally ran for eighteen issues at Image, before making the jump to Dark Horse, and re-numbering for another nineteen. It is especially impressive to think that the book is ending because the story is finished; this is not a sales-driven conclusion.

When the book began, it was a slightly different beast than what it became. I only jumped on to it towards the end of its Image run, around issue fifteen or so, and picked up the rest of the series in trades or in individual back issues on Ebay. I was immediately impressed by the scope of the book - Nelson has written an alternative-history book that stretches across Europe, and reaches back to the beginning of the calendar.

The first artist on the book, Eric J., was very much of the Image school. His characters were dynamic (if ridiculously tall), and the chase scenes in the early issues fit his style. When Juan Ferreyra took over (there were a few other artists in-between), the story slowed down a little, and became more lush, to match his warmer art and impressive ability to render faces and expressions. The 'blue apples' could only have worked with his colouring.

While this final issue, of necessity, is a Hollywood block-buster, this title has been measured and intelligent. It feels like everything is neatly wrapped up, although I do have one major concern. I may have purchased a mis-printed copy - the story ends rather abruptly with Moricant and Gen about to enter a church, and a figure standing in shadow behind them. This may be the intended ending, but it seems a little vague, and I was suprised at the lack of a text-piece or other form of farewell at the end of the book. Now, to add to my confusion, the usual newspaper pages that accompany this book were posted on-line, so I really don't know if this is the proper end, or if I have a bad copy. If anyone's copy ends differently, please let me know.

Regardless of a potentially disappointing ending, this is a fantastic comic. I urge people who have not experienced it to go out and start reading the book in trades - it's worth it.

Rex Mundi #18

Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Juan Ferreyra

I've been enjoying Rex Mundi quite a bit lately, even though it has become much more action-oriented and has put less emphasis on the historical and religious aspects of the plot. This issue balances those two things better than the last four or five, as Julien debates religion with the villagers around Lorraine's castle, while also plotting an attack on Lorraine and associates.

This is a taut and exciting issue, with a last panel that hints at an interesting development to come. It's nice to see the newspaper articles return at the end of the book too.

Rex Mundi #17

Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Juan Ferreyra

More big revelations in this issue, as Rex Mundi gets increasingly more exciting and unpredictable in the build up to its finale.

There's not much that I can say without spoiling the events of the book (although clearly, from the cover, Moricant comes back). I've really enjoyed the way that Nelson has set up the Holy Grail plot in this book - the first issues were often exposition-heavy, but all that groundwork is really paying off now that the book has has reached this point.

I think this book has reached the point where it would be difficult to pick up many new readers, except in trade. While the art in the first book or two is rough, it is worth starting at the beginning of this story, and reading it completely. The addition of Juan Ferreyra to the title was the best thing that could have happened to it, as it brought it new life and provided Nelson with an artist who truly had the capability to bring his vision fully to light.

Rex Mundi #16

Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Juan Ferreyra

Clearly, this series is getting closer and closer to its big finish, as a few more cast members are moved off the chess board, and Lord Lorraine starts to seem ever more desperate.

This is really just an action issue, with lots of shooting, magic, and screaming. It's been a while since an issue of Rex Mundi has gotten bogged down by historical exposition, but as the story reaches its climax, it makes sense that the pace would pick up (in the story, if not in shipping schedules).

As always, the art and colours in this book are beautiful. I do miss the newspaper pages that accompanied each issue though....

Rex Mundi #15

Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Juan Ferreyra

I was thinking well reading this how fortunate Nelson was to gain Ferreyra as a partner for this title. His art and use of colour fits the themes and feel of this book much better than any of the earlier artists did. The earliest issues by EricJ were interesting, but more old-school Image, and the tone of the book has really shifted away from that.

You can tell that Nelson is close to finishing his story. The pace here if very quick, and the stakes keep getting higher. I like how the grail, which was such an object of mystery in the early days, is treated so off-handedly here. I'm not sure how many issues remain in this series, but I hope it's a lot, as I'm enjoying it more than ever.