Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
The Last Broadcast #1 of 7
Archaia (Boom Studios)
Sirangelo & Iumazark
The latest launch from Archaia/Boom is a crafty mini-series that opens with a comic that is equal parts complex and gorgeous making for a compelling read. The mini-series lays out a lot of plot threads in the opening issue but manages to establish a couple of main characters and entertain the reader with the present issue rather than simply trying to set up things for future issues. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary from super heroes then I recommend picking this comic book up. I am guessing you will like what you find.
The book opens with a character named Ivan waking from an explosion to a strange nurse sitting by his bedside. Immediately the book establishes that Ivan is a magician and he was involved in something a little shady. From here the book launches into a flashback.
The comic gives a little bit of background about Ivan and some details about his life. He is presented as a failed magician and someone that seems to be heading down the path of failure in life in general. Ivan tells a story about Blackhall The Incredible, which is a magician from the 1920-30s that used the radio to contact the dead. This seems to be the central plot to the story as Ivan embarks on a quest to find some of Blackhall's belongings.
The book has a lot of information in it, but it definitely has a swift pace to it. I liked how the comic was constructed as some of the scenes end, leaving the reader with questions, then another scene comes along and puts those questions into a different light. This was a very well-crafted opening issue.
The artwork is lovely. There is a grainy and dark look to the entire book that definitely plays into the mood that the subject matter is touching on. The comic has a sharp contrast of the dark scenes with the bright white in items like Ivan's magician suit. Overall the book has light line work that gives the false appearance of absent details, but the comic is very densely detailed upon closer inspection. This is a great looking comic.
The Last Broadcast is a bold mini-series filled with different ideas and wide-open directions for the plot. The opening issue does a terrific job of bringing the plot to the reader while rolling out the key characters. Without this balance the opening issue wouldn't have been able to grab the reader in the same way this comic book does. I definitely recommend checking this book out. The mini-series has the makings of a classic.
4 out of 5 Geek Goggles
