Creative Team: Scott Snyder (Writer,) Francesco Francavila (Art and Colors,) and Andworld Designs (Letters.) Cover by Francesco Francavilla.
White Boat #1:
The ocean is a peaceful yet terrifying place as Lee would find out early on in life. 21 years have passed after a tragic accident leaving Lee’s brother Ward dead and Lee writing pieces about sailing for various magazines. After being invited to the mysterious “White Boat,” Lee finds himself in a potential fight for his survival as he is being transported to an unknown place to meet an individual known as The Master.
The Art:
Francesco opens up this very first issue in a big way. We get to travel to various different arenas within these pages; however, starting first with the ocean, the way its calmness is depicted through colors and drawings, it’s as though we are viewing the real thing. Once on the boat, the maze the reader is left in, playing on various color contrasts from vibrant white to the looming gloom of the oranges and reds, builds up the reader’s sense of dread as Lee frantically fights to escape. The amount of detail in each room of the boat and then switching gears to the vibrant island green tells me we are in for something special from Francesco.
The Writing:
Scott Snyder kicks off this story by weaving us through a maze of mystery that starts off somberly with the loss of a brother and quickly shifts gears to a heart-wrenching thriller. The line ” The Ocean Forgives” stands out for me as I always found it unforgiving, yet Scott, through the story he is telling, finds a way for the reader to agree with him. He does a splendid job crafting this fast-paced build as you know, there is more to this boat and Hollace than we are told, which leaves our hearts pounding as though we are trapped ourselves.
Overall:
I love a good thriller/mystery and this has the early signs of a great addition to these genres. As the issue ends just as we the reader, become fully immersed and need the second issue right away. DSTLRY has assembled an all-star cast and this book needs to find it’s way into the monthly rotations.
10/10 Cigars
This has been a review by Matt of Hops ‘Geek’ News. For more reviews and links to the show visit http://linktr.ee/hopsgeeknews
