Sometimes it take more than facts … it also requires belief.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Michael Gordon
Artwork: Hakan Aydin
Colors: Marco Lesko
Letters: Fabio Amelia
What They Say:
The son of a famous parapsychologist charters an expedition into the heart of the Bermuda Triangle, hoping to prove once and for all that his father was right in his theories about the lost civilization of Atlantis.
Content: (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Edward Coyle was once a well respected researcher and scientist, however in recent months, his theories and ideas have been ridiculed due to his current obsession with the existence of Atlantis. Now at a signing, those notions are put to the test as a heckler begins to mock the man, questioning his sanity for believing in such nonsense. Soon the store owner realizes this argument is going no where, so he shuts it down by allowing the author to sign copies of his book. It is not long until the author meets an unusual admirer who sparks his interest, with the man stating Coyle’s last trip was closer to the prize than anyone else, questioning if it is not time to start a new expedition and handing a set of coordinates for Bimini Road.
However six months later, his son Eddie and childhood friend Jenny are discussing the same proposition, wanting to go after his parent and continue this fixation with Atlantis. When his father approached him about the man and this new location, the son had enough of the obsession, rejecting the proposition of going within him to prove his theories were correct. Not wanting to be caught up in this lunacy, which had damaged the trust of the institute he founded and those of his closest friends, he parted ways with his father, but now wants to make up for that loss now that he was missing. But what caught his attention was a letter Eddie received from his father, stating he was drawn through a dimensional vortex and found Atlantis, which was paradise. Even with his friend doubting the folly of following, the two decide to make the journey after assembling a crew, but is this the best choice or is it an unwise decision?
In Summary:
After first reading the title, of course I hoped this story would be something different concerning the Bermuda Triangle, however it did not take long before writer Michael Gordon took the tale into something bordering on mediocrity. The starting premise was interesting, a man’s search for Atlantis and being ridiculed for his obsession, but once he was lost and the son took up the cause, this where the story takes a turn into being preposterous. While I can understand a son wanting to find his lost parent, however all it takes to change his previous doubts is the convenient arrival of an impossible letter? After admitting he thought his father was mad, how can a few well chosen words and the passage of time cause such a drastic change in attitude? The narrative made it clear he did not want to hear any more of the ravings, and Eddie even confessed he lost all respect for his father, relieved to hear he was lost and was looking forward to putting things back in order again. Although when he receives the note, all of those feelings change so drastically and the character takes up the same fanaticism which he detested six months ago – this seems improbable. Even Jenny tries to convince him otherwise, and yet falls under his sway for what she calls insanity so easily, this too seems dubious. Although the remainder of the tale continues to plod along, the underlying narrative is confusing, seemingly having Eddie trying to assure himself and Jenny this is the right thing to do. Then finally the issue concludes with a predictable closure, using the Twilight Zone twist to justify all which has gone before, while at the same time seemingly wanting to give the reader a reason why the story ends this way, without a nod in knowing this was all expected for the title.
Normally when a story is lacking in enthusiasm, you would hope the artwork would somehow salvage the issue, but in this case illustrator Hakan Aydin and colorist Marco Lesko only add the simplicity of the issue, and not in a good way. From the start the questionable use of white framing to isolate the panels seems like an unwise choice, secluding each sector and magnifying the madness which pervades the story. The choice of colors are in turn amplified by this background, lighter tones are paler and dark ones are at times oppressive due to a lack of anything to balance this forced quarantine. And while there are pages which have black backdrops which allow for a symmetry between tones, these moments are too infrequent to allow for any normalcy in the coloring. And though the colors themselves cannot be fully to blame for a lackluster presentation, the portrayals of characters and scenery are not much more helpful in communicating the forced tension of the tale. Aydin’s depictions are deficient in originality, they seem familiar to images from pop culture, such as Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or are stereotypical of other artists, such as J. Scott Campbell’s imagery of people. As of such, the story has a sense of déjà vu, while not in the narrative itself, the styling of the illustrations gives the appearance of having seen something similar. It is this combination of factors which causes this issue to become blasé, not allowing for a display which makes the story noteworthy or allowing us to care for anything which it tries to present in all its uninspired attempts.
Due to a tale which lacks originality in both literary and artistic endeavors, this issue falls short of the chill factor which allow it to be called a successful attempt for the Grimm Tales of Terror namesake. The story makes the characters appear to be insecure of their own choices and the visual elements are weak and imitative of well established artists, thus when combining the two components you are presented with a narrative which is all too fragile to support its own weight. While the whole is adequate, when you examine the elements separately, they fall apart without a solid foundation and thus, make for a tale which fails although it had a positive beginning.
Grade: C
Age Rating: T (for Teens)
Released By: Zenescope
Release Date: June 27, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
