Comic Preview: Memorial #2 (of 6) from IDW Publishing

By Andrew Leslie
Posted on January 17, 2012

Creative Team:
Words: Chris Roberson | Art: Rich Ellis | Cover: Michael WM Kaluta

Synopsis:
A year ago, Em found herself at a hospital with no memory, her mind a complete blank. After spending a year rebuilding her life, she is thrust into the middle of a supernatural conflict between immortal beings representing fundamental aspects of the universe itself when she is given the key to a magical shop, the kind that appears in an alley one instant and disappears the next. With nothing but a talking cat to guide her, she finds herself targeted by living statues, an evil ventriloquist’s doll, and the mysterious Court of Shadows…

Review:
A lot of writers are very good at creating an entirely new world, be it Middle-Earth, the Galactic Empire or Hogwarts School of Wizardry. With MEMORIAL issue #2 Chris Roberson has begun setting up three entirely new worlds for his characters to inhabit: the Land of Maybe, the Land of Is, and the Land of Was. In issue #2 we only get a glimpse of each of these new worlds, but even just a glimpse gives the reader a lot to look forward to. Each world is rife with potential stories and interesting characters for the protagonist, Em to encounter. A handful of those characters are introduced in this issue, the most fascinating of which are the members of the Court of Shadows. The King & Queen (Oberon & Titania) rule over the court, but can’t seem to keep control of the Knave of Shadows, named “Panic” and appropriately so as he seems the type quick to incite it. Roberson has begun to fill out the world of Memorial with magical characters, but adds another dimension to the traditional fantasy comic genre by having them slowly creep into the world of humans.

There’s a particular set of panels, drawn by series artist Rich Ellis, with a member of the Shadow Court creeping into our reality that is simultaneously unsettling and intriguing. On the subject of Memorial’s art work, Rich Ellis’ drawings are perfectly in-step with the story. His portrayal of the Shadow Court is monochromatically imaginative and his overall style is inviting to readers of all types. That’s to say nothing of the color work by Grace Allison which is, in a word: LUSH! Without Allison’s deft color work, the comic would not be the same. If you’re dubious, go to your local comic shop and check out page 10 showcasing the water fall behind the Shadow Court’s castle. If that doesn’t sell you on Allison’s talent, you must be colorblind.

MEMORIAL #2 pulls the reader further into an ever-expanding world with interesting and original characters, terrific art and a sense of wonder that is usually gets delegated to kids’ comics, though this is a comic with mature sensibilities.

Go to your local comic shop and check out Memorial #1 & #2 and then tell a friend about it! Thanks to IDW Publishing for use of the preview pages below!