Eden (One-Shot) Review

 Writer: Cullen Bunn

Artist: Dalibor Talajic

Rating: 6 of 8

Eden

You never really know who's gonna walk through your door. Could be your friend, your brother, or someone you haven't met for a long time. Or, it could be the love of your life; and all they have to do is walk through that door...

For Niles, such uncertainty isn't always part of the job. As a tattoo artist, he usually knows who's going to come on through, but one day, a real mystery walks into his life. A mystery called Eden. Every couple of weeks, she comes in wanting a tattoo and though she knows what she wants, she never wants it drawn up first.

She wants the very first time it's drawn to be on her skin. Though it's an unusual way to go about it, surprisingly, it always works out. Stranger still, though, is the fact that, every time she returns, her last tattoo is gone - and yet, when asked, she says she didn't get it removed. Is she just lying, or is it something stranger?

Fittingly, one of the best parts of the tale's the art. Though some of it's just fine, others are simply outstanding. Even in the opening page (above), Talajic infuses it with a real artistry. By laying the tattoo into the background, it packs a sense of life beyond the scene, while the inky flourishes indicate one of ease - and pain.

Bunn, meanwhile, paces the issue well, ensuring it never drags. At times, though, he indicates the tale's going back further than it is, which is odd. When he finally reveals the truth behind the mystery, we get a strong sense of horror - and pain. After that, we see just how deep Niles' pain really goes - and just how far he'll go to end it.

Overall, a superb issue and, despite any small mistakes, it's certainly one worth checking out.