Leroy Douresseaux Reviews THE VAULT #3

"Needs more than a little luck"

THE VAULT #3 (OF 3)
IMAGE COMICS

WRITER: Sam Sarkar
ARTIST: Garrie Gastonny
COLORS: Sakti Yuwono
COVER: Garrie Gastonny and Bagus Hutomo
28pp, Color, $3.50 U.S.

The Vault is a three-issue comic book miniseries from Image Comics, which comes to a rousing conclusion. It is written by Sam Sarkar and drawn by Garrie Gastonny and focuses on a small team of treasure hunters struggling to excavate a dangerous treasure pit before a massive storm arrives. Nothing can prepare these people for what they are about to unleash.

The story focuses on archeologists and treasure hunters, Dr. Gabrielle Parker and Dr. Michael Page. Unlocking the secrets of the treasure pit at Sable Island, known as the “Graveyard of the North Atlantic,” is the culmination of a decade of their hard work. After Gabrielle discovers a hidden vault connected to the main treasure shaft, the team finds a large stone sarcophagus surrounded by a layer of corrosive liquid.

It’s The Vault # 3, and it’s alive! The survivors leave the island, but something has followed them aboard their rescue vessel. Now, Parker and Page, the protagonists, must also become the heroes.

Think of this as Raiders of the Lost Ark meets The Abyss meets The Mummy (1999) meets one of my favorite B-movies, Virus (which is based upon a Dark Horse Comics miniseries). Writer/creator Sam Sarkar focuses on the setup in the first issue; the characters, their motivations, and secrets in the second issue; and on the denouement (and what an exciting one it is) in this third issue. This is a study in creating the brief, efficient, and bluntly effective thriller.

Garrie Gastonny is a good artist; his compositions are strong and his storytelling is clear and engaging. However, the important thing in The Vault is atmosphere, and, with colorist Sakti Yuwono, Gastonny depicts a modern world full of science adventurers and mercenaries breaking down before the unknown of our largely dark ancient pasts. The atmosphere and mood make this a winner.

A

For more information about the artist, please visit http://thegerjoos.deviantart.com/.