When the inmates run of the asylum … you never know what will happen.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Joe Tyler
Artwork: Carlos Granda
Colors: Jorge Cortes
Letters: Fabio Amelia
What They Say:
For decades, the U.S. Government has covered up the existence of dozens of species of dangerous creatures that have been captured over the years. After building a small, secretive city on a remote island in the Pacific, these monsters were transported there to be studied.
In 2012, disaster struck and the island was evacuated. Now the inmates have taken over, and different species fight for control within the city walls. However, something extremely valuable was left behind on the island and the only way to recover it is to send an elite mercenary unit into the most dangerous place in the world … Monster Island.
Content (please note that portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Kelsey now understands who truly is in charge of Monster Island, and it is not the one she wished to negotiate terms. The Elf Queen holds control over the creatures of the land and during the past five years, she has managed to enthrall them into a formidable force, all except one – Cy. He is the most powerful among the survivors and the only one she cannot turn to her side, until now. The good doctor was the one key she was lacking, and now thanks to her former friend Charles, she now has the means to persuade the cyclops. However, will she be able to count on this scientist to lure her giant companion without exposing the plan, or will she even listen to reason?
Unfortunately, as the rest of the team is attempting to locate the beast in question, Merrick knows that their deadline is quickly approaching. It won’t be long until their employer sends the evacuation helicopter, but they won’t do anything unless they have the package. And of course, Dr. Bennett is the only one who knows how to find Cy and extract the sample without harming him. This is the only way it will work since they might also need his help to escape this menagerie. But, as they enter the facility, it appears that the Queen is not willing to release her captive so easily, as seen by the numerous barriers which bar their path. Even with the help of Xorn’s people, how will they be able to make it to the top to rescue Kelsey? Or will anyone survive this suicidal path of destruction?
In Summary:
With only one more issue left, writer Joe Tyler has started to heighten the urgency of the mission by doing what we all unfortunately expected – having the villain explain her own plan. It is not bad enough that everything from the start seemed like a cookie cutter story, but now the most trite of plot twists of the B-grade genre has come to pass, including the heroine’s loyal friend becoming the lackey. This series is quickly tumbling downhill towards an ending which seems recycled from a C-grade or even a Z-grade movie from the dollar matinees. It is a shame since it began with an interesting premise, but with the end in sight, Tyler is pulling out every trick he can think of so as to finish it with a bang, but as it is now progressing, it seems like it is limping more toward a whimper.
Although the story may be cliché, once again Carlos Granda’s kinetic artwork and Jorge Cortes’ magical colors have not disappointed and they are the only things which can elevate this narrative. Every panel Granda skillfully directs moves the story along with a pacing that is comparable to a high tension action movie and Cortes’ wonderful usage of tones accents the work with the hands of a seasoned cinematographer. The two artists abilities synergize the book in a way which neither could separately. To feel the terror approaching Merrick and the team, wince at the pain inflicted on Kelsey and even the disgust projected by the Queen as she decides what to do next, all of these monumental moments would fall flat if not for the teamwork these two artists.
Escape From Monster Island has become bogged down with too many of the foreseeable themes that it does not seem original anymore. Everything is predictable and even if you haven’t seen any of the shows or movies which the book seems gleaned, you can still guess with much certainty what will happen next and you’ll probably be right. Hopefully with everything set now for the action-packed finale, it will be straight forward without any expected twists – we can only hope.
Grade: C+
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: June 15th, 2016
MSRP: $3.99
