Review: Sussex Chapter One
How about a neon-noir World War Two set cup of tea-centric British Intelligence agent starring psychological thriller in completely stunning, detail-rich, jaw-droppingly coloured art? Then you really want to get acquainted with Sussex by Nick Goode and Álvaro Molina.
Nick Goode is a UK writer with twelve years of creative writing experience and an MA in Creative Writing. Nick's previous comic books include Snow: The Dawn, Lone Tales, The Eventide (Snow Chronicles) and The Red Wave. Nick also has two published novels Pneumatic and A Year. Álvaro Molina is an unreasonably talented artist from Spain with a more than elusive online presence. His Instagram offers a great glimpse at his audacious abilities and shows an absolutely fantastic command of illustrative wizardry. Impressively talented creators introduced, we'll have to get into this one.
So, let's start with the art. Álvaro Molina presents without doubt my favourite art so far this year. The pages of Sussex are absolutely stunning. On every front and in every way this art entrances. Every panel and page is rich in detail, the line work is sublime but then the use of colour is expert.
Through this read you cannot help but marvel at the majesty of the choices made. The neon palette adds a dreamy, magic quality to already impressive art that just enriches and elevates every aspect of the story on offer. Everything is tied together nicely with unconventional panel layouts and inspired splash pages that saunter the story along. I agree wholeheartedly with our Ben who put it best by saying, "a proper work of art in comic form". Indeed.
Truly lofty heights of impressive art deluged to the senses dealt with its story time. Nick Goode is building something appreciably interesting in Sussex Chapter 1. The main plot centres around Arch and what will surely be daring exploits for the S.O.E, but for now, it's all about the exposition. We're learning the nature of Arch and alluding to his affinity for this type of work.
Everything is told in snapshot flashback moments and reads like snippets of memory. The story premise is interesting enough, I mean who doesn't love some spy stuff and espionage subterfuge, however there's a lot more going on with this one. The pages that bookend this story are full of narration that hints at a bigger picture, a reason this story is being shared, perhaps. This narrator, a future Arch, drops breadcrumbs throughout that offer an intriguing promise of something more emotional and poignant. The final page perhaps promises a more action-laden affair for chapter 2, which will no doubt entertain, but I'm sure it will be the other side of this story that will prove to raise something more thought-provoking.
This is a series with real potential and an opening chapter to leave you fully onboard and ready to dive into whatever comes next.
For fans of psychological thrillers, World War II, spies, cups of tea, discussions of marriage, the nature of memory, Operation Jedburgh missions in occupied France to disrupt German rail and High Command, interesting visuals for building navigation, more tea, love, and parachutes in Neon noir palette art that truly is a "proper work of art," Sussex Chapter 1 is the start of something special.
To get a copy you will find no better time than right now thanks to the ongoing Kickstarter here where lucky folks can get not just chapter 1 but chapter 2 also. It really is the best opportunity to get in at the beginning of an exciting new series.
Review: 4.5/5
