Review - Death Sentence Volume #1Review by Paul Fiander
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WRITER: MONTYNERO
ARTIST: MIKE DOWLING |
If you could have a Superpower which one would you want? However there is a catch.
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Good stories can tie together a thread and make it engage with the reader, great stories are able to tie together multiple threads and grab the reader by the throat and drag them into the narrative. To this end writer Monty Nero has decided to craft a story that is aiming for the great end of the spectrum with Death Sentence. On the face of things the idea of a virus giving people powers is not a new idea but throw in the fatality aspect of the virus and you get a new spin on the tale.
As you look at the actual book it has a number of points that show the attention detail of the creators. Firstly the hard cover gives you a stable base with which to read from, the paper as well feels high quality. This is something that will always give physical production the edge over the digital experience. The covers of each issue act as bookmarks breaking the book up so you can read it in an issue to issue format if you want. However one of the best parts of the series has been the ending of each issue, here we get to see the story expanded in clever ways from a web page to a magazine report. It helps give an expanded view of the world that could have diluted into the story, the choice to create these pages though helps keep the pacing of the story to a more impactful level. The true back matter of this edition shows an array of variant covers that act as nice look into the artwork on show. The very end of the book though is a great look into the creative process; Monty Nero and Mike Dowling offer a commentary on the issues they have created so far. It’s broken up into chapters and pages and you get to see quite a lot about the two men’s sensibilities. They have a laugh and a joke but it’s the conviction of their craft that really stands out. This is not a reason to read Death Sentence (that’s in the story itself) but it does help to give the volume an extra level of value not found in the single issues. The G+ virus is perhaps the most important character in this story; I say that as it is the binding point for the three focal points of the story. A virus is a difficult organism to classify as it is not really an animal but its desire to procreate almost gives it the nature of an animal. This is mirrored by the base desires of Weasel, Monty and Verity, all three have an artistic nature but by the very fact they have the G+ virus they are also all sexual beings (some more than others). Of course having an artistic vein running through the characters also leads into a look at the concept of celebrity. |
I’m from the school of thought that you should be famous for achieving something, this leaves the cult of celebrity lost on me. The characters within the book do show multiple facets of the idea of fame, from the one hit wonder, to the chameleon who has taken over the world to the artist who is looking to enter the world. Each has their idiosyncrasies that are explored within the text and each feels like a fleshed out member of the narrative.
The story itself explores how each of the characters deals with the contraction of the G+ virus, they all have powers and all have to deal with the idea of their own mortality. It’s a certainty that we will all die but knowing the end is fast approaching is a scary proposition. It also feeds into the idea of the fifteen message of fame. It’s a very tidy conceit and works well to give the players in the story a true motivation that can sometimes be lacking.
Most of the chat so far has concerned the written story but it takes more than one creator to tango in this book and on art Mike Dowling does a great job. This is most apparent where action is called for later I the book but even his character models have an appeal all of their own. His tone within the darker scenes both in terms of colour and imagery is first rate and well worth your time. There are times though that the art feels like it dips these are few and far between but due to the high point of the art they are noticeable.
Overall Death Sentence is one of those stories that can entertain the reader on multiple levels, whether it’s the superpower angle of the idea of mortality that tickles your fancy, you will find more than enough to fulfil your desire within the pages. Perhaps though the real reason to buy this book is to see an ambitious project actually pay off in its execution and on that dodgy pun I will leave you with the rating.
The story itself explores how each of the characters deals with the contraction of the G+ virus, they all have powers and all have to deal with the idea of their own mortality. It’s a certainty that we will all die but knowing the end is fast approaching is a scary proposition. It also feeds into the idea of the fifteen message of fame. It’s a very tidy conceit and works well to give the players in the story a true motivation that can sometimes be lacking.
Most of the chat so far has concerned the written story but it takes more than one creator to tango in this book and on art Mike Dowling does a great job. This is most apparent where action is called for later I the book but even his character models have an appeal all of their own. His tone within the darker scenes both in terms of colour and imagery is first rate and well worth your time. There are times though that the art feels like it dips these are few and far between but due to the high point of the art they are noticeable.
Overall Death Sentence is one of those stories that can entertain the reader on multiple levels, whether it’s the superpower angle of the idea of mortality that tickles your fancy, you will find more than enough to fulfil your desire within the pages. Perhaps though the real reason to buy this book is to see an ambitious project actually pay off in its execution and on that dodgy pun I will leave you with the rating.
Volume Rating; 4.5/5
First three pages of the opening chapter.
The Comic is available in both print and digital from Titan comics. Follow this link for more details.
For another misuse of a Superpower.....& more from Titan Comics.
Images courtesy of Titan Comics
Comic - Provided by Publisher
Comic - Provided by Publisher
