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MERIDIAN #18
Recommended (8/10)
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CrossGen Comics
Writer: Barbara Kesel
Artist: Derec Aucoin
Colors: Jason Lambert
Letters: Troy Peteri & Dave Lanphear
Price: $2.95 US/$4.50 CAN |
There was a time that Scion stood alone, easily my favorite of the CrossGen line of comics. These days, I find I'm torn between that book and Meridian every month. The common bond between the two -- other than the usual CrossGen trappings -- is that they both tell coming-of-age stories in a political setting. Adding to Meridian's appeal this month is the brilliant fill-in art by Derec Aucoin.
Sephie, the Minister of Meridian gifted with supernatural powers, continues to lead pirate raids on commercial shipments from her uncle's domain of Cadador in the skies over Demetria. Just as she and her friends successfully commandeer another convoy, a call for help arrives from the floating mining city of Torbel. Ilahn is allowing the city of fall from the sky, and it's up to Sephie, along with the Muse of Giatan, to prevent a deadly disaster.
Meridian started out as a coming-of-age story, and it remains that a year and a half after its debut. It also developed quickly into a political story, filled with intrigue. A road-trip/fugitive theme took shape as well, and in recent issues, Meridian has developed into a swashbuckling adventure. The amazing thing is that every time the book develops into something new, the old characteristics are not lost in the process, making for a multi-layered, innovative read.
Derec Aucoin seems get better with every assignment he takes on. I remember his earlier stuff from DC, which gave way to much stronger work on Marvel's Quicksilver. I remained impressed with his stuff on the short-lived Avengers United We Stand series written by Ty Templeton. His work with CrossGen, though, has been the strongest of his career thus far. Inking his own work agrees with him, it would seem. There's an even more crisp quality to his art here, and the influence of such artists as Adam Hughes and Mike Wieringo shine through. Combined with the stunning colors of Jason Lambert, Aucoin's work makes for a rich visual experience.
Let's be honest... Barbara Kesel is far from one of comicdom's biggest stars. I've enjoyed samples of her work in the past, but it's been on Meridian that she's really grabbed some attention and come into her own. She has created characters, settings and circumstances that are always evolving, and that evolution is what keeps me coming back month after month.
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