Black Science #14
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Matteo Scalera
Colorist: Moreno Dinisio
Letterer: Rus Wooton
The trauma of parenthood is being a parent. It is the act of being a parent that simultaneously brings great joy, confusion, panic, and sadness. Ask almost any parent, "What act in life has brought you the most stress? What act has brought you the most joy?" They will almost assuredly say, "raising a child" for both answers. This issue of Black Science confronts that duality head-on. In a brilliant scene where Grant replays moments from Pia's childhood in his head, we're forced to see that pain/joy play out right in front of us. For me, personally, it's a devestating scene. Children place a god-like status unto their parents that will exist with them until they see their first spark of real humanity, their mistakes. Watching Grant grapple with this in his dialogue mixed in with Scalera's heartbreaking panel work creates something that not only appears real, but also feels real. I don't want to be hyperbolic, but it's one of the most truthful comic pages I've ever read.
The comic doesn't only focus on the role of being a parent, there is a good heft of action and interpersonal dynamics at play within the group. As Grant tries desperately to bring his family back together you can see the seams of the Dimensionauts begin to tear. It won't end well that's for sure (but when do things go right in a Remender book?) All of this action is violently propelled forward by Scalera and Dinisio's dynamic partnership. Dinisio took a few issues, but I think he's found his stride. His coloring is just as good as Dean White's excellent work on previous issues. I've aleady spoken about certain pages that I've loved in this issue, but another that needs to be mentioned is the jaw-dropping title pages. The extreme close-up of the top panel to the slightly removed shot showing the entire convoy is devestatingly effective. Showing that entire convoy after everything that has happened at the start of the issue feels like another nail in the coffin for the Dimensionauts. How can they possible keep surviving these encounters when the universe(s) are clearly trying to stop them at any chance. The look of complete surprise on Shawn's face mirrored my own.
After 14 issues, Black Science may have reached it's emotional apex, I don't think it can get anymore terrifying and joyous than this.
Artist: Matteo Scalera
Colorist: Moreno Dinisio
Letterer: Rus Wooton
The trauma of parenthood is being a parent. It is the act of being a parent that simultaneously brings great joy, confusion, panic, and sadness. Ask almost any parent, "What act in life has brought you the most stress? What act has brought you the most joy?" They will almost assuredly say, "raising a child" for both answers. This issue of Black Science confronts that duality head-on. In a brilliant scene where Grant replays moments from Pia's childhood in his head, we're forced to see that pain/joy play out right in front of us. For me, personally, it's a devestating scene. Children place a god-like status unto their parents that will exist with them until they see their first spark of real humanity, their mistakes. Watching Grant grapple with this in his dialogue mixed in with Scalera's heartbreaking panel work creates something that not only appears real, but also feels real. I don't want to be hyperbolic, but it's one of the most truthful comic pages I've ever read.
The comic doesn't only focus on the role of being a parent, there is a good heft of action and interpersonal dynamics at play within the group. As Grant tries desperately to bring his family back together you can see the seams of the Dimensionauts begin to tear. It won't end well that's for sure (but when do things go right in a Remender book?) All of this action is violently propelled forward by Scalera and Dinisio's dynamic partnership. Dinisio took a few issues, but I think he's found his stride. His coloring is just as good as Dean White's excellent work on previous issues. I've aleady spoken about certain pages that I've loved in this issue, but another that needs to be mentioned is the jaw-dropping title pages. The extreme close-up of the top panel to the slightly removed shot showing the entire convoy is devestatingly effective. Showing that entire convoy after everything that has happened at the start of the issue feels like another nail in the coffin for the Dimensionauts. How can they possible keep surviving these encounters when the universe(s) are clearly trying to stop them at any chance. The look of complete surprise on Shawn's face mirrored my own.
After 14 issues, Black Science may have reached it's emotional apex, I don't think it can get anymore terrifying and joyous than this.
A Look Inside
