Writer/Artist: David Hine
Publisher: Image Comics
In many reviews, I have lauded comic creator David Hine for his revamp of the Todd McFarlane creation Spawn. In Spawn, Hine fine-tuned the character Al Simmons from a super hero to the lord over an Earth remade in his image. A horrific image, that is. I used to wonder where my friend got the horror chops he uses on Spawn.
After reading Strange Embrace, I don’t wonder any more.
With the help of his long acquaintances Rob Steen and Richard Starkings, Hine brings the world of Sukumar and the fantastic and equally scary world he was brought into one night while delivering groceries for old man Corbeau. The ensuing pages leave the reader wondering what exactly is real to Sukumar, and wondering what exactly David was on when he wrote this story years ago.
Like many readers I’m sure, I asked myself if I knew Hine was an artist himself. It shouldn’t surprise, as many of the industry’s top writers started out with a pencil in their hand. Starkings even comments on the inside cover that when he first met the creator years ago at Marvel UK, he was impressed with how good of an inker David was. Needless to say, when the head of Comicraft compliments somone, it is worth paying attention to.
Sukumar makes the grocery delivery as instructed by his father, and on the way home he meets a white haired gentleman named Alex who looks strangely like someone he had a dream about earlier in the book. In essence, Alex becomes Sukumar's tour guide, taking the boy on a journey through his memories. The stories seem to come to life for Sukumar, almost as if he’s reliving them.
I’m not going to lie; it took me a couple of reads to get me on the same page as the writer. Some people probably read this book on the first go around and understood everything completely. I’m of the impression that when someone writes and draws his own book, everything on the page is there for a reason, and is worth taking note of. I enjoyed making mental notes about body position, streams of smoke and smiles. Who knows if it will mean anything later in the series, but I sure enjoyed doing it anyway.
I mean to say I enjoyed this book in a cerebral sense. Most of us reading comics would love to be able to consider ourselves a writer someday, so books such as these become an exercise in technique. Reading a book for framing of a scene, pacing and all that jazz, can open your eyes more than shaking hands at a convention will ever possibly manage. What I felt was missing was the charge that should accompany a psychological thriller such as Strange Embrace. Perhaps it was my cerebral process or my lack of innocence in regard to the material. Whatever the reason, I didn’t finish the book with a sense of, “Wow, I have to read that again.” That is the main reason the book was not rated higher.
I wish I had more criticism for the book, but there isn’t much more to be had. It’s a beautifully paced story that gives you more than expected with the art. Other than electricity traveling up my spine, this book was as good as it gets in the industry.
The interesting aspect will be how Hine continues this plot. I didn’t read this book the first time around, but rest assured I will find out where Alex’s and Sukumar’s journey takes them.
What did you think of this book?
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