Steampunk #2

Last issue ended with Cole Blaquesmith saving a child, destroying a steam powered garbage truck and publicly shouting his name.  To you or me, that's no big deal - but in 1830's Absinthian England, that's a big no-no.

After a chat and a shave from Randy, Cole learns he was underground for 100 years.  We are treated to a writing lesson w/ Cole and a mysterious blonde woman (in flashback) until Cole is snapped back to the present by a man named Robert Peel - a freedom fighter, who is also a member of the aristocracy.  He tells Cole that he is to be the hero of the people.  Cole, still reeling from the shock of the length of his sleep, storms out.  Randy goes after him...

... and we cut to Absinthe talking to a member of the Church (he has a head like an old diver's helmet - creepy) and discover that Absinthe is working for something for the Church.  Rikk, our freedom fighter who got captured last issue, is rolled out sans arms and legs, and Absinthe reveals a switch on the back of Rikk's head marked soul...

... Cole asks Randy how things got that way - Randy says Absinthe came to power about 90 years ago.  Before he came to power there was no steam; ever since, the smog has blanked out the sun.  Cole visits a statue of Absinthe and realizes he knows the Monarch.  Flash back to our mystery blonde, coughing up blood and Absinthe saying he can save her.  A mysterious woman attacks Cole and they fight.  She revels herself as as Victoria, Queen of the savages, and tell Cole that there's a bounty on his head she is there to collect.  They fight until Cole drops over for some unknown reason.  Victoria is about to claim her prize when a mysterious voice introduces itself as Faust and says that the prize is his.

All around a solid issue - so packed with information my synopsis doesn't do it justice.  This series is so well thought out - from the subtle references to the 1800's to Absinthe's way of speaking - that it still (after a couple reads) leaves me felling satisfied.  The story is so bizarre, so out of the mainstream that it feels like reading a story by Pynchon.  Awesome.  One small complaint - some of the panels are so filled with detail, you loss the focus of the action.  That's not to say the art is bad - it's sometimes so good the brain has trouble processing the important parts.  This is a exciting issue that needs to be read like a post-modern novel - slowly and with the utmost joy.

Well, until next time - happy reading!


Credits

Joe Kelly - Writer

Chris Bachalo - Artist

Steampunk #1

In our last issue, Randy and Sköm dug up a mysterious man with a mechanical arm.  But this issue opens with a clean cut man walking down a street, heading to a reading lesson with a lovely lady who is hanging out on the back of a 50's style car...but, remember, this takes place in 1837.

And we're snapped back to the present, which is actually the past but that's all a matter of opinion, and our mechanical man has some butt to kick.  He beats the crap out of a half lizard man, a guy with a bazooka, and a floatng hear before collapsing in front of Randy.

We see a scene with two rebels (freedom fighters who oppose evil Lord Absinthe) on the run being trailed... something.  All we know is that it's heralded by haunting flute music.  Rikk, one of our rebels, injures his leg and is cut down by a mysterious glowing sword.  Laslo, our other rebel, is allowed to live to spread the word that "all belong to Absinthe...body and soul."

Our recently awakened man wakes up underground; Randy and Sköm try to keep him in their hovel.  He makes his way out and up to the surface - where he saves a child from what can only be called a street sweeper for children.  He perches on top and screams "I am Cole Blaquesmith and I will not be broken!"

Good issue - sets up all the players very well.  Joe Kelly really knows how to interweave flashbacks so that they do not feel forced.  The story is complex and full of questions; keeps me coming back for more.  The art is phenomenal - if at times a bit too busy.  Chris Bachalo fills every page with huge amounts of details so that when he decides to go with something sparse, it really jumps off the page.

So, until next time - happy reading!

Credits

Joe Kelly - Writter
Chris Bachalo - Art

Steampunk: Catechism

Snap Judgment: Promising

So, I decided to take a break from Spider-man, went digging through my long boxes and came cross this issue.  It's a special kind of book that might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it.

The book opens with a series of mysterious quotes with dates that don't add up.  From these, we're told our tale is set in the 1830's, but this ain't not your great-great-great-great-great-granddad's Victorian England.  Mechanical bugs fly through the air, people are augmented w/ animal parts, and steam powers the entire land.

We're introduced to Sköm and Randy, two unlucky grave robbers, who are digging for "spare parts".  Their hole collapses with a startling boom and they find themselves in a weird cavern with a clock coffin counting down to who knows what.

The action cuts to the current leader of England - one Lord Absinthe - who is upset about the noise.  He's malformed and speaks with a modern tongue.  He's...well...he's creepy.

Cut back to our grave robbers and the coffin, which opens up to show a bearded man with a mechanical arm and a furnace in his chest.  Awesome!

Then it's over - what a tease.

The story sets a mysterious stage - a time in our past where things aren't quite right.  And it's done in a fantastic way.  There are quotes from Kant and Franklin mixed in with quotes from our Lord Absinthe.  This book poses more questions than it answers and pulls the reader in.  The art is a real treat - meticulous and at times overwhelming.  It takes a lot of work just to look at one panel.  All told, it's a great read and a nice beginning.

Well, since I own the rest of this series - I'll see you back here next time for issue 1 of Steampunk.  Until then - happy reading!

Credits

Joe Kelly - Writer
Chris Bachalo - Art