More of the past revealed.
Creative Staff:
Story: George Mann
Art: Joe Eisma
Colors: Michael Garland
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
What They Say:
In the heart of the forest, Joss and the others finally learn the truth about the mysterious alien shades–and in so doing, discover the reality behind Ichabod’s worsening illness. As Gemini brings the fight to Joss–guns blazing–the picture of what happened to the missing people from the shantytown at last becomes clear.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Though a little haphazardly at some points in how it unfolds, Engineward reveals more of the past of this world and the kind of strange patchwork that it is. I do like what George Mann continues to do here and part of me wishes it had a few more issues between each of the issues so far in order to breathe more life and personality into the world so that we felt more connected with it. Joe Eisma looks to be having a blast in coming up with the designs for it as there’s a lot of variety here and some neat visual elements for technology to show how different things are. Combined with the solid color design out of Michael Garland, it all comes together really well. I’m even not frustrated by some of the colors inserted into the lettering by the long-reliable Otsmane-Elhaou.
With Joss having been found by a Shade at the end of the previous issue, things take a different turn here as we discover that this one is somewhat friendly – since he’s not being attacked. With help through a translation device, we learn that he’s called Glok-Aitch and he fills in Joss on his people’s history. That they came from another world, one that was dying and set up here using their science to recreate parts of it was a way to keep the species going. But a breakdown in their nanomachines caused the spread of a virus that killed off most of them, decomposed their buildings and more, turned everything truly bad. There are now a dozen or so of them left and they can never get close for fear of exposing each other to the virus. It’s a pretty tragic piece and Eisma gives it a really good visual design as it unfolds and as Glok-Aitch draws in the rest of Joss’ group who aren’t thrilled by discovering him.
All of this is unfolding as the Celestials are shifting gears in how to deal with Shiptown as they’re cracking down hard on that next. It’s causing a lot of problems and pain that’s going to spread in a lot of bad ways. But we also get Gemini and their group making their way out to where Joss is and discovering the Shade is with them as well. The goal is still the ghoulem and Joss is certainly not giving that up. It may be surprising to see that Glok-Aitch would align with Joss and the rest so quickly, but the Celestials are the types that seem like they make enemies everywhere they go. And with the discovery that it wasn’t the Shades and his people that were kidnapping humans all this time but rather the Celestials, things are going to get even worse in relations soon.
In Summary:
Engineward again expands our knowledge of how this world is made up and just what kind of things are impacting it even now, such as the virus that has made a rare leap to humanity. The curtain is being drawn back from the eyes of some of our residents of Shiptown and that’s going to change things as it progresses. I continue to like how Joss is handling things, though she is just a bit too naive at times, so it helps that the rest can help push back at times against things. It’s a solid issue with what it brings in to play and it looks great, especially as Eisma really captures some great expressions from the Celestials as they begin to run rough over everyone.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Vault Comics | Amazon | ComiXology
Release Date: November 11th, 2020
MSRP: $3.99
