2017

Writers: Justin Jordan, Nikki Ryan / Artist: Morgan Beem / Image Comics

The intrigue of Jessa’s adventures came from two specific areas: first, insight into her thoughts, and second, the landscape of the Float itself. Unfortunately for The Family Trade, the former is reaching the point of overuse and the latter barely used at all. In its third issue, The Family Trade places Jessa neck-deep in her conflict – now including betrayal atop the continuing theme of her running for survival – but the series feels isolated, almost claustrophobic, with the extent we are living in Jessa’s mind when the world of assassins and a creative new city could feel nothing less than expansive. It’s a missed opportunity, at least for now, under-utilizing maps of the Float and acquainting readers with its layout and key landmarks. Still, there’s betrayal and another great escape by Jessa in this issue, and those are enough to keep any issue entertaining.

Morgan Beem’s style is limited by ubiquitous close-ups and small room settings, so I look forward to bringing the action outside into the greater expanse. Buildings, river ways, grappling hooks, the night sky… this series can really flex it artwork when Jessa is giving us a running tour of the Float, and the series should play to those strengths. Things flow in a fun direction each time that’s the case, and it supplements well with Jessa’s inner dialogue, her voice telling one story while the landscape tells us more about her world.

Overall, things have sped up, and this comic lives on the cusp of reaching the promise of its premise. Interested to see how Jessa’s character arc evolves following betrayal, and how she gets herself out of another corner. She stays forever on the run, and hopefully her character arc can catch up soon so we care about her goals beyond survival.

7.5 out of 10

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Writer: Jordie Bellair / Artist: Vanessa R. Del Rey / Image Comics

Redlands dives deeper into Bridget’s backstory, dating as far back as the 1600s when she was a somewhat different person than she is now. A lot of character evolution can happen in over 300 years, and it’s crazy interesting to see glimpses of her life through the decades, both the regular and the supernatural. One can hope it continues this way for a while, with Ro and Alice as well, painting a picture of their histories and bonds throughout their centuries together. As we focus on Bridget’s past though, we are juxtaposed against Ro and Alice’s present as they wait for a mysterious person whose introduction was disgustingly thrilling.

At 5 issues in we have enough of the landscape that we can move this plot forward, but readers are still lost when it comes to the present and the overarching challenge or goals for our trio of witches. Remarkable, then, is that I don’t even care; with so much depth to uncover between Bridget, Ro, Alice, and the world they live in between the spiritual and physical, Redlands has afforded itself a slow pace in setting up the chess pieces before the game begins. The cast continues to grow as we begin to recognize recurring characters – Laurent, for example, confirmed as a long-time presence in their lives – and the arrival of a new visitor, Itsy’s “grandfather,” might be the catalyst for whatever’s to come.

Whatever that “something” is, I’m locked in. Overall, Redlands #5 lives in the tradition of this young series’ greatness. The epilogues at the end of each issue are an awesome feature as well, this one containing some of the saddest, darkest insights we’ve seen thus far. The way those endings inform the series as mini-tales of their own? The way they add depth and richness to their world? Brilliant. All of it, brilliant.

9.7 out of 10

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"It was unfair." She's angry, and rightfully so, but more so sad about the unexpected ending to her television debut.

Check out Richie’s new haul Blood Of Saiyans SSJ Goku

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