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MIDNIGHT NATION #9
"Explanations, Valid and Otherwise"
Recommended (8/10)
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Image Comics/Top Cow Productions
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Pencils: Gary Frank
Inks: Jonathan Sibal
Colors: Matt Milla
Letters: Dreamer Design
Editors: Peter Steigerwald & Alvin Coats
Price: $2.50 US |
After a long delay, Midnight Nation is back, and though the delay
has eroded my enthusiasm a little, the story definitely doesn't suffer from the
break between issues. In fact, the pause seems to have worked in Straczynski's
favor, as David's arrival and trial in New York now stands alone, the
culmination of his journey but also an important moment in time all by itself.
Throughout this series, the
themes of isolation and identity have been at the forefront, and that is
definitely expanded upon in this issue. The notion of New York being shaped by
control by the leader of the Walkers is a frightening one, and Frank gives us a
beautiful view of the "shadow side" New York, corrupt and empty and embodying
the worst attributes that people associate with the city.
The meat of the issue is
David's talk with the leader of the Walkers, a figure who has more than a little
in common with (and may in fact be) Satan. In spite of, or perhaps because of,
his decidedly non-religious views, Straczynski has always done fascinating
stories involving religion and the nature of God, and this story is a good
example. This issue features an examination of the need for misery, a familiar
theological debate but one presented in an interesting manner.
There is a lot of power in
the words that Straczynski gives the Walkers' leader, and for the most part,
Frank matches it with powerful imagery. The flames and rocks motif so common in
Hell is here, and it works pretty well, and I greatly enjoyed seeing the
"lighter side" of the Walkers with their goofy singing and their demonstration
of the birth of the universe using props. I did feel like the use of computer
manipulated photographs in an attempt to show the universal misery didn't work,
as it seemed a bit stiff and removed from the rest of the book instead of
awe-inspiring or horrifying.
Although the foreshadowing
had given us a pretty good idea of what to expect from David's confrontation
with the leader of the Walkers, there are some surprises to be had. Most of the
surprise for me came in the reactions of the Walkers, and even the lead
antagonist, to the completion of this cycle. There are clearly revelations about
the change from man to Walker, and Laurel's role, that have yet to come to
light, and I'm very curious to find out what they are.
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