Saturday, June 15, 2019

Sonata #1 Review


Writers: David Hine and Brian Haberlin
Artist: Brian Haberlin
Rating: 7 of 8

Sonata #1
Image result for sonata #1
The issue's set on Perdita, a planet where the Ran have taken refuge. They tend to favour peace over conflict and try to negotiate where possible, which becomes difficult due to the uncompromising nature of the Tayans' leader. The Ran're running low on water and things may only get worse in an effort to obtain it...

One of the best things about the issue is the world it explores. From the beautiful, bird-like Thermasaurs Sonata and others fly, to the chilling otherworldliness of the Sleeping Giant, you really get the feeling of a whole other world. The team really came up with a unique design for the Sleeping Giant; it's a towering figure, with one central hole as their eye, a large mass of hair at its' top.

Image result for sonata #1 comic 
We see them only briefly, when Sonata's trying to protect some new arrivals from a couple vicious Grimkats, which are a sizable group of creatures with black muzzles, small, pointed teeth, spiky hair like a hedgehog's and three stick like things pointed out. Haberlin does a good job on the rain and though there's a lot of it, he gives it a light feeling. Due to the storm, maybe it should look a bit heavier, though reading the issue, I was fine with it.

There's a couple things to like about Sonata. She's not afraid to speak her mind, but doesn't force her opinion. She's keen to help when she can and despite the situation, she'd still have feelings for a boy, like any girl her age. If I had one criticism of the issue, it's that I feel it can be a bit wordy. I feel Sonata describes a bit much with internal dialogue and I think it'd be better if the issue used the art to explain things a bit more.

Speaking of art, the issue's got some great use of sequential art. In three panels, we get to see the Giant gradually turning, then walking away. Earlier, we see Sonata looking at her Thermasaur, Kee, then away and then back to kiss them. We learn a few things here; their relationship, why Sonata flies off on the next page, that there's a storm and a bit on how her father is with her. I was really impressed with it. So, apart from being a bit too wordy, this is a really good, enjoyable 1st issue and it'll be interesting to see where things go from here.

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