Warning: Potential Spoilers
The Grievous Journey of Ichabod Azreal #1
2000 AD 2015
Written by: Rob Williams
Illustrated by: Dom Reardon
Coloured by: Peter Doherty
Reviewed by: Steven Leitman
Summary: An tale of vengeance and redemption in the afterlife as the deadliest, meanest outlaw the Old West ever spat out is murdered - but that is just the beginning of his journey into the underworld as he desperately tries to return to the land of the living, and his true love Zoe.
Review: I read this and I immediately thought that this is one hell of an intelligent book. Rob’s vocabulary and the use of words were magnificent. I loved seeing words here that are rarely seen in comics, and the descriptions were colourful and consise, and the characterization is beyond reproach. This is for lovers of excellent storytelling folks.
Meet Ichabod; who from birth was a bad seed through and through. A born killer, he garnered a reputation and was feared even among the men he ran with until eventually he struck out on his own. Finally even an outlaw can go too far and the townsfolk of Corinth hired people to take him down. He was off the radar for four months, as he’d found the love of a beautiful woman. But even she couldn’t permanantly stop his ways and once the snows ended he returned to Corinth. Bloody Bill and his men laid in wait but as luck would have it, a young boy would be his demise.
This is only the beginning of his story. I loved this too because while alive his story was in colour and in death it was in black and white. His death doesn’t end his story and actually its here that it begins in earnest, and he’s seen in a whole different way. His confrontation with the Four Horsemen riding their blurred black horses, think not in focus, says there is more to this man than meets the eye and he’s able to do things that no one else has been able to do. Even amidst their telling Ichabod to surrender himself and answer for his crimes his memory of the woman he loves is in colour.
He’s supposed to go to the River Styx to stand in judgement for his life’s nefarious actions. He travels to the river and sees the millions of dead souls waiting. Here we meet a couple of new characters waiting in line, one of which coincidentally is the Deputy from Corinth that was the final straw in the town's eyes that brought about Ichabod’s death. The other well, he’s a colourful character and one I will admit I highly enjoyed getting to know. His words, eloquent and flowery were truly a delight.
Ichabod’s arrival meant people started getting out of the line and so more of the Blurred came to fix that problem. So the action starts again in earnest as one of the Blurred gets shot by Ichabod and turns out to be a demon. The flowery speaking gentleman, General Nathaniel M. Beauregard, has the best lines here as he apologizes for mounting the Deputy in the manner that he does. And I gotta tell ya, it just makes you smile because it’s awesome. I also like how Nathaniel comes to Ichabod’s defense during the fight and suddenly with the Deputy they are something of a trio. Okay,so how this all plays out is really something you need to experience because Ichabod’s grit and determination are admirable.
The three men leave the river before the Angels arrive. Charon who we all know is the boatman of the River Styx is also here and his role is much larger and hidden from his “masters.” Making his role in this drama something of intrigue. Gosh the way this story plays out you know Ichabod is a bad guy there’s no doubt about that. But in the realm of the dead he’s not evil, he’s more something of a good guy. Savior if you will with his determination to get back to the world of colour is kind of admirable. Now along with Zebulon, the Deputy, and Nathaniel their adventure will begin.
Smart, sassy, brash, and daring this first slightly oversized issue introduces us to a world where nothing is what it seems and dangers lurk around every corner. This is a must read book for there is nothing else like it!
2000 AD 2015
Written by: Rob Williams
Illustrated by: Dom Reardon
Coloured by: Peter Doherty
Reviewed by: Steven Leitman
Summary: An tale of vengeance and redemption in the afterlife as the deadliest, meanest outlaw the Old West ever spat out is murdered - but that is just the beginning of his journey into the underworld as he desperately tries to return to the land of the living, and his true love Zoe.
Review: I read this and I immediately thought that this is one hell of an intelligent book. Rob’s vocabulary and the use of words were magnificent. I loved seeing words here that are rarely seen in comics, and the descriptions were colourful and consise, and the characterization is beyond reproach. This is for lovers of excellent storytelling folks.
Meet Ichabod; who from birth was a bad seed through and through. A born killer, he garnered a reputation and was feared even among the men he ran with until eventually he struck out on his own. Finally even an outlaw can go too far and the townsfolk of Corinth hired people to take him down. He was off the radar for four months, as he’d found the love of a beautiful woman. But even she couldn’t permanantly stop his ways and once the snows ended he returned to Corinth. Bloody Bill and his men laid in wait but as luck would have it, a young boy would be his demise.
This is only the beginning of his story. I loved this too because while alive his story was in colour and in death it was in black and white. His death doesn’t end his story and actually its here that it begins in earnest, and he’s seen in a whole different way. His confrontation with the Four Horsemen riding their blurred black horses, think not in focus, says there is more to this man than meets the eye and he’s able to do things that no one else has been able to do. Even amidst their telling Ichabod to surrender himself and answer for his crimes his memory of the woman he loves is in colour.
He’s supposed to go to the River Styx to stand in judgement for his life’s nefarious actions. He travels to the river and sees the millions of dead souls waiting. Here we meet a couple of new characters waiting in line, one of which coincidentally is the Deputy from Corinth that was the final straw in the town's eyes that brought about Ichabod’s death. The other well, he’s a colourful character and one I will admit I highly enjoyed getting to know. His words, eloquent and flowery were truly a delight.
Ichabod’s arrival meant people started getting out of the line and so more of the Blurred came to fix that problem. So the action starts again in earnest as one of the Blurred gets shot by Ichabod and turns out to be a demon. The flowery speaking gentleman, General Nathaniel M. Beauregard, has the best lines here as he apologizes for mounting the Deputy in the manner that he does. And I gotta tell ya, it just makes you smile because it’s awesome. I also like how Nathaniel comes to Ichabod’s defense during the fight and suddenly with the Deputy they are something of a trio. Okay,so how this all plays out is really something you need to experience because Ichabod’s grit and determination are admirable.
The three men leave the river before the Angels arrive. Charon who we all know is the boatman of the River Styx is also here and his role is much larger and hidden from his “masters.” Making his role in this drama something of intrigue. Gosh the way this story plays out you know Ichabod is a bad guy there’s no doubt about that. But in the realm of the dead he’s not evil, he’s more something of a good guy. Savior if you will with his determination to get back to the world of colour is kind of admirable. Now along with Zebulon, the Deputy, and Nathaniel their adventure will begin.
Smart, sassy, brash, and daring this first slightly oversized issue introduces us to a world where nothing is what it seems and dangers lurk around every corner. This is a must read book for there is nothing else like it!