Writer(s): Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto
Artist: Phil Noto
Publisher: Image Comics
This is one of those comics that prove that comics can be better then TV, movies, or books. Infinite Horizon is set in the future, but it’s not science fiction and I don’t think it’s meant to be a statement about where we’re going as a country. It simply is the best-fit setting for the story—an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.
Duggan I’m familiar with—I knew he was a good writer. Noto I’ve never heard of but his art is really good and, most of all, original. What makes it unique is how it’s done. Most comics use ink and acrylic paint. I was certain he was using acrylic oils, which are very different—especially looking at page 8’s sky. However, I had an artist friend look at it who said it looks like it was done on computer—possibly incorporating some paint, but mainly computers. Either way it’s done very well. The lines still keep in typical comic book form except he uses a variety of colored lines rather then just black. The key difference is in how the coloring is done. That difference can be most seen in the scenes in the desert of Syria.
They don’t screw around with setting the scene. Since a main character is in the military, by the third page there’s a briefing that has all the exposition needed for the opening of the book. Again, it’s not meant to make a statement, it’s just the setting. What’s really interesting is the environment in the U.S. Not everything is made clear in the scenes there—for some reason people are violently arguing over water and martial law is in affect. Even though it’s unclear what’s going on overall in those scenes, the characters’ relationships toward each other are clear. So it’s still good and isn’t too confusing.
Set aside all of the artistic aspects and the issue still has a scene that’s mainly badass action. The military is evacuating from an airport in Syria and the last group of soldiers, led by ‘The Captain’ (don’t think a real name is given for him) who is meant to be Odysseus, can’t get air lifted out and have to fight their way to escape the country.
Pick this one up. It has everything except humor.
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