Afterlife Inc. Volume 3: Lifeblood
Created and Written by: Jon Lock
Pencils by: Ash Jackson
Inks and Colours by: Nathan Ashworth
Letters by: Michael Stock
Reviewer: Rob Wrecks
Summary: As CEO of a thoroughly modernised afterlife, Jack Fortune has faced more than his fair share of challenges, triumphing time and time again. Troubled markets. Political opposition. The odd threat from beyond human comprehension… No job is too big for AFTERLIFE INC. But when the future looks this bright, it can be all too easy to neglect the past.
Ancient wheels are turning; remnants of the Empyrean’s forgotten origins and its lost keepers. Terrible things are lurking beneath the surface of Jack’s Brave New World.
And nothing stays buried forever…
Review: Chances are that by now, you've heard about and likely even read this installment of Afterlife Inc. And if you haven't done either, where the heck you been!? Consorting in darkened alleys with Vampires or some such!? Bad business to be doing that you know! Now from my understanding, you don't necessarily have to have read the sequel that came before this, but reading the first in the series is likely a very big essential to understanding anything. But reading the sequel is always a good thing too. One of the things I found to be unique was the use of manna in place of blood. And as with blood, I'm assuming that if you lose enough manna you are very likely to be a goner for a second time. Which considering you are already in the afterlife that is quite possibly a very bad thing. While a lot of bad happenings went down here that surprised even me after a second reading, I don't exactly think that issue was really touched on in this. Something to pick Jon Lock's brain about one of these days!
The bad guys we get to see in this honestly remind me of certain vampires from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Aside from the redhead anyway, although with her a certain scene later in the story made for some great amusement. Even if at first it was a little confusing when things switched up so suddenly with her fantasy. I will say it right here and now, as I likely did with my review on the first title of Afterlife Inc. Anahel is easily one of my favorite characters in this world of Jon's. He doesn't hold back on anything, and his response to a proposal of Mr. Fortune's is something I felt would have been delivered with a very dry wit if done in a live adaptation and done by the right actor. And if one of your main supporters is angry about something you're doing. Its very likely a good thing to actually LISTEN! Though with Fortune, the Afterlife equivalent of Dollar Signs outweighs his listening skills. Paving the way for all sorts of unpleasant happenings later on.
Lux, who is practically a walking universe in her own right with how she looks. Has me curious to see just what would happen if enough damage was done to her. Would she explode? Causing a big bang or even a black hole in the Afterlife? Certainly either one would NOT be a good thing if one or both was to occur there. We get to see a bit of what does happen when she gets hurt to a certain point. And it makes me rather curious to see how far Jon will go in exploring any potential ramifications in future stories since it shows that even in the realm of the dead, there things even there that aren't known of for one reason or another. Certainly shows that the dead know how to keep their secrets!
Rich Fire is among the newer characters to be introduced in this story. And depending on your point of view, he's either a good guy or simply an opportunistic mercenary who is a bit on the dedicated side to his job. Dedication is always good of course, even if though it can sometimes make you a bit over zealous in doing something. Even by the end of this, I highly doubt Rich and Lux could even be considered friends! Though you've certainly got to admire Rich's creative thinking and knowing when to take advantage of a situation.
While I could go on and on about what I did or didn't like about this title, I won't do that to you guys. One lesson to be learned from this when it comes to cultist lunatics is that no matter what, they should be taken seriously. You never know when they might unleash an ancient secret that could wipe out the Afterlife! Anahel also shows just why he's the best part of this world during that whole mess. And if you've read this already, you know what I'm talking about! So if you've got a strong stomach for some carnage and general destruction, this will be for you. I am really curious to see what Mr. Fortune has in mind now that this has all happened. Course its highly unlikely he'll let that set him back! But only Jon Lock has the answers! So if you haven't yet, go grab yourself a copy and enjoy!
Created and Written by: Jon Lock
Pencils by: Ash Jackson
Inks and Colours by: Nathan Ashworth
Letters by: Michael Stock
Reviewer: Rob Wrecks
Summary: As CEO of a thoroughly modernised afterlife, Jack Fortune has faced more than his fair share of challenges, triumphing time and time again. Troubled markets. Political opposition. The odd threat from beyond human comprehension… No job is too big for AFTERLIFE INC. But when the future looks this bright, it can be all too easy to neglect the past.
Ancient wheels are turning; remnants of the Empyrean’s forgotten origins and its lost keepers. Terrible things are lurking beneath the surface of Jack’s Brave New World.
And nothing stays buried forever…
Review: Chances are that by now, you've heard about and likely even read this installment of Afterlife Inc. And if you haven't done either, where the heck you been!? Consorting in darkened alleys with Vampires or some such!? Bad business to be doing that you know! Now from my understanding, you don't necessarily have to have read the sequel that came before this, but reading the first in the series is likely a very big essential to understanding anything. But reading the sequel is always a good thing too. One of the things I found to be unique was the use of manna in place of blood. And as with blood, I'm assuming that if you lose enough manna you are very likely to be a goner for a second time. Which considering you are already in the afterlife that is quite possibly a very bad thing. While a lot of bad happenings went down here that surprised even me after a second reading, I don't exactly think that issue was really touched on in this. Something to pick Jon Lock's brain about one of these days!
The bad guys we get to see in this honestly remind me of certain vampires from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Aside from the redhead anyway, although with her a certain scene later in the story made for some great amusement. Even if at first it was a little confusing when things switched up so suddenly with her fantasy. I will say it right here and now, as I likely did with my review on the first title of Afterlife Inc. Anahel is easily one of my favorite characters in this world of Jon's. He doesn't hold back on anything, and his response to a proposal of Mr. Fortune's is something I felt would have been delivered with a very dry wit if done in a live adaptation and done by the right actor. And if one of your main supporters is angry about something you're doing. Its very likely a good thing to actually LISTEN! Though with Fortune, the Afterlife equivalent of Dollar Signs outweighs his listening skills. Paving the way for all sorts of unpleasant happenings later on.
Lux, who is practically a walking universe in her own right with how she looks. Has me curious to see just what would happen if enough damage was done to her. Would she explode? Causing a big bang or even a black hole in the Afterlife? Certainly either one would NOT be a good thing if one or both was to occur there. We get to see a bit of what does happen when she gets hurt to a certain point. And it makes me rather curious to see how far Jon will go in exploring any potential ramifications in future stories since it shows that even in the realm of the dead, there things even there that aren't known of for one reason or another. Certainly shows that the dead know how to keep their secrets!
Rich Fire is among the newer characters to be introduced in this story. And depending on your point of view, he's either a good guy or simply an opportunistic mercenary who is a bit on the dedicated side to his job. Dedication is always good of course, even if though it can sometimes make you a bit over zealous in doing something. Even by the end of this, I highly doubt Rich and Lux could even be considered friends! Though you've certainly got to admire Rich's creative thinking and knowing when to take advantage of a situation.
While I could go on and on about what I did or didn't like about this title, I won't do that to you guys. One lesson to be learned from this when it comes to cultist lunatics is that no matter what, they should be taken seriously. You never know when they might unleash an ancient secret that could wipe out the Afterlife! Anahel also shows just why he's the best part of this world during that whole mess. And if you've read this already, you know what I'm talking about! So if you've got a strong stomach for some carnage and general destruction, this will be for you. I am really curious to see what Mr. Fortune has in mind now that this has all happened. Course its highly unlikely he'll let that set him back! But only Jon Lock has the answers! So if you haven't yet, go grab yourself a copy and enjoy!