ANTARCTIC PRESS/GUARDIAN KNIGHT STUDIOS – @AntarcticPress
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
CARTOONIST: Brian Shearer – @brian_shearer
24pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2018)
William the Last in a new comic book series created by Brian Shearer. Shearer has drawn such comic books as Ghostbusters, Star Trek, and Transformers for IDW Publishing. William the Last chronicles the adventures of an orphan whose name is forbidden word in a strange kingdom.
William the Last #1 introduces us to a boy named “William,” who lives on an island with his grandfather. They seem to live in and around the area of a beach and small forest that gird the island's primary feature, a bulky cliff or mountain. After his grandfather's death, William does as the old man once suggested, climb the cliff. What he finds is a strange city, a mystery, and danger.
Brian Shearer writes, draws, colors, and letters William the Last, and he does all of that quite well. William the Last #1 reminds me of Mouse Guard and Farlaine the Goblin, two independently published, fantasy comic book series that have the look and feel of classic children's fantasy fiction. This first issue mainly introduces William and also what seems to be a primary supporting character and also a dangerous adversary. There are not many details in this first, but it is still intriguing.
That is the nice thing about this first issue – the sense of anticipation. From the first page, I felt the urge to hurry to the next page and then, turn to the next. This suggests to me that William the Last has potential, and I like Shearer's illustrative style. I must say also that Shearer's pretty coloring has a bright, attractive quality.
Interested readers (and there should be a lot of you... eventually ) will want to pre-order William the Last. I get the feeling that many comic book shops won't carry “copies for the shelf” unless there is some level of pre-ordering on individual issues. I had to back-order the copy I got. We should pay attention; William the Last could come out of nowhere like Mouse Guard or Bone did, and then, some of you will be feeling left behind
7.5 out of 10
http://www.williamthelast.com/
http://brian-shearer.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BrianShearerArt/
https://www.instagram.com/brian_shearer/
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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