I've got two or three other Aria comics lying around my apartment somewhere, and I could just kick myself for not checking them out before. This was a hauntingly beautiful comic book, both conceptually and visually. It's clear that Bill (Fables) Willingham's not the only comic-book creator who's playing around with characters from storybooks and legend in a modern setting. This is a delightful, grown-up fairy tale that's reminiscent of the writings of Neil (Sandman) Gaiman.
In New York City, a quartet of centuries-old friends who originated from amid faerie folk live their immortal quietly, but one of them gets an invitation to a grant event back in a new kingdom in her magical homeland. Her curiosity is piqued. Meanwhile, preparations for the grand celebration of the new king are well underway, overseen by Hans Hedgehog. But what the cute, wise and organized fellow doesn't see is an encounter between a fire spirit and a great beast that's caged beneath the kingdom.
Medina's artwork here is awe-inspiring. I'd swear it was painted, if not for the credits listing separate colorists. The more fantastic elements look as though they could have been rendered by the uber-popular Alex (Paradise X) Ross. The visuals here are photorealistic, and really capture both the everyday humanity of the characters in the "real world" and the magic of the faerie kingdom. The colors are vibrant in the magical scenes, but nicely textured and muted in the more grounded ones.
The bulk of this issue takes place in the magical kingdom, but Holguin wisely sets a more human tone at first by focusing on a character who seems to be the catalyst for the tale. Her real-world woes and memories of more pleasant times as a child are elements to which the reader can relate, just as one can imagine the same sort of leisurely drive through a forested area. That tone is reinforced by the everyday activities of Kildare and her friends later on the book.
Holguin maintains a nice balance between that more human side of Aria and the wondrous sights in the supernatural city that Kildare visits. The sights are fun and fearsome, cute and chilling, all at once. Hans's busybody personality and dichotmous dialogue -- both excitable yet restrained -- are a real treat, and the innocence of Ember is wonderfully charming. I really can't wait to visit this fantastic locale in the next issue.
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
