Resonant Vol. 1

It has never ceased to amaze me just the width and breadth of fantastic comics there are out there. For a guy whose pull list and shelves were predominantly 'big 2' a decade ago, i sure do read a lot of 'alternative' genres these days.

This has been the highest benefit to reviewing for Pipedream comic over all these years because it has allowed me a taste of something different: different genres, different styles, different talents. As a result, I've been given the chance to become invested in something that I might not have given the chance all those years ago.

What's surprising is the number of comic series I've been hooked onto as a result of all these reviews I've wrote. Copperhead, Black Magick, Autumnlands, James Bond, Cognition, Porcelain, Future, it almost feels like an endless list.

And Resonant is another on this list, although it's a shame it has taken so long to get around to it.

After reviewing the first issue some time ago, I finally acquired myself the first volume (thanks Santa) and, while it's only been a couple of weeks, I found my eagerness to read it far too overpowering to ignore.

And, boy, was I glad I didn't.

Resonant Vol.1 follows a family, dad Paxton, daughter Rebecca and sons Tyrone and Stef(an?), attempting to survive in a post- apocalyptic world which attempts to continue in the wake of the waves, mysterious energy storms which cause people to become dangerously aggressive to themselves and others. However, youngest son Stef is sick and so, leaving his children at their isolated home, Paxton sets off to find help but gets more than he bargained for when he is forcibly separated from them and tries to find his way back while the trio struggle to survive together.

Of course, I probably could gave been more in depth with the plot but I fear I'd reveal spoilers (not that it matters because I suspect spoilers will be incoming).

Ive always felt that a sure fire way to gauge how much you enjoy anything is to see how long it takes you to complete. I read Sharpe's Tiger (a novel by Bernard Cornwell) in 3 days. I binge Daredevil in a night (God bless children unwilling to sleep) and, with Resonant, I complete this trade in two evening reads. Suffice to say I really loved this comic!! Volume 1 continued to offer everything that the first issue had initially hooked me on back when I reviewed it; a riveting and seriously engrossing story with a stunningly beautiful art style which formed a disturbing and twisted world.

Based on this volume, I feel David Andry is writing a fantastic series. I absolutely loved the Family dynamic that went through these first five issues as the relationship between the various characters felt incredibly real and genuine (given how some of the kids statements to each other take me back to how my siblings and I spoke). Meanwhile, I've always had a real soft spot for father figures in comic books with Reed Richards and Black Science's Grant McKay as examples. Now though Paxton joins their ranks as he has become my new favourite character with his unwavering love and sense of responsibility to his kids (naturally) while also being an absolute bad-ass martial artist coupled with his zen wisdom. It does make me wonder how Paxton made his seduction about the waves and I'm hoping that is something that is delved into later.

Speaking of the waves this is Resonant's grand overarching mystery and I find it compelling as anything. I really felt during these first five issues that Andry drip fed me the mystery of what happened to the world but did it in such a way, with the Chirpers and the need for people to be unconscious, that I was severely intrigued and need to know what is going on and where it came from. Everything else about this world has me equally engrossed, despite the fact more is divulged. I'm absolutely loving the new social hierarchy that we are being introduced to almost alongside Paxton and the kids. Seeing 'Hospitality as an almost 'Hilltop crossed with that Waterworld village (with the cage anyway)' type of place and from the moment we enter, every single character feels wrong somehow. It's almost as though the waves led to a madness that lost of the world has simply accepted. In fact, almost every character seems wrong in this series somehow. The congregation, particularly their leader, seems shifty. The Brotherhood of Maw come across as decidedly Mad Max-esque and Honcho is just vile (although I wonder if his protection stems from a form of sociopath, which would explain his almost insane rants). The fact is, David Andry has made this such a rich and three dimensional world that I find myself all the more immersed here than in any other apocalypse world I've read before.

As for the art ... well, what can I say that I haven't already said about the writing? Alejandro Aragon and Jason Wordie have produced a truly breathtaking set if visuals, with every scene looking incredibly beautiful but also emitting this sense of terror and chilling dread with every set piece the family respectively find themselves amongst. I thought Aragon's art had a distinctly European flavour to it but I thought this works well to give the world a look that seemed as damaged as the its society (and probably mental state) thanks to the waves. This, in fact, leads into what was was maybe Wordie's best work in the volume given how he coloured the waves, as I thought his heightened colours gave the whole manifestation of the waves a real thunder storm look (which again makes sense given how the chirpers pick up on them). Although, my most favourite scene was most definitely Paxton going all kung Fu on Honcho's tribe, as I loved the kinetic feel of it.

I've gone on for a while (at least it feels like it) but then, I could maybe have gone on for quite a while longer. I found that Resonant really imprinted itself onto my mind quite deeply and with the story it has told so far, not to mention that ending, I'm already eager as anything for this to continue.

Its just a shame I'll probably have to wait until next Christmas.

Oh, and before I forget ...

While I got to read and then gush (as you can see above), I also had the opportunity in the last week to review a couple of Aftershock comics, a publisher I had not yet had the privilege to read comics from.

First up was Scout's Honor #1 by David Pepose and Luca Cadalanguida. Now, I'm not sure what more I can say that you wont see in the review itself but, suffice to say, I absolutely loved this comic. I was completely immersed throughout and I have to admit that, given I just read Spencer and Locke a few days ago, you can actually see such an incredible advancement in David Pepose's writing (not that S&L was bad but just that this was THAT good).

As for the art, i really loved what Luca Casalanguida did in this first issue, as I felt that his style perfectly encapsulates the wilderness-esque atmosphere of the story. This was only enhanced when Matt Milla's colours were added as they were a natural palette which only better the original art.

Now, I do have questions about this story, things like 'Does Kit's Father know the truth?' and 'are the highwaymen and that crook former Ranger Scouts?' which are now niggling in my head but they are additional great incentives to come back which, based on this, issue I'd sure be happy to do.

After that I wrote a review for Join the Future by Zack Kaplan and Piotr Kowalski. Again, I think we've really lucked out from Aftershock this week because I thought that this was another fantastic read. I thought Join the Future was such a gripping, fast paced read that had compelling characters and, above all, a scenario where no one was the real enemy (I did find myself wondering if the future mega city were evil or truly believed that they were doing the right thing).

The art is gorgeous as well. I've compared it to Michael Lark's from Lazarus (to which, admittedly, the whole book makes me think of), but it's a comparison that's justified given how clean the images are (although it does remind me of other series which I just cant pull out of my memory).

At two weeks into the year, i didnt think we'd have contenders for the 2021 top 50 but I truly believe this is one and if they ever made a follow up series (which the ending would certainly allow for) then I'd definitely pick it up.

So, another week done and the equivalent of eleven single issue comics read, I feel it has been a good start to 2021 overall. Hopefully next week can keep this trend.