Artifacts #33 Review

Writer: Kenny Porter

Artist: -Rom-

How will two of the 2012 Top Cow Talent Hunt Winners fair on one of the companies biggest titles? Read on to find out.

The official description from Top Cow:

“THE TEACHER AND THE PREACHER”

Top Cow publishes its first team of winners from the 2012 Talent Hunt! Rapture bearer and defrocked priest Tom Judge and the nueromancer Tilly Grimes are hot on the heels of a prolific serial killer. But even if Tom is able to save the next intended victim, is he already too late to save her soul?

Although not the biggest follower of Artifacts I always questioned how it would be handled once Ron Marz left. In answering that I feel that Top Cow has handled the change very well, as although it is still questionable how the final transition away from Ron Marz will be, having the winners of the Top Cow Talent Hunt show their skills is a great way of utilising the transition.

I was very impressed with the writing of this issue and Kenny Porter did a brilliant job. Porter produced a brilliant tone throughout this issue, building up some great tension and suspense. He’d also add some outstanding emotion as well, with there being a lot of depth to the characters. The only minor negativity that I give to this story is that it would have probably have been better over a couple of issues, feeling rather too quick paced. In saying that given the fact that Porter was given only one issue to tell this story he did an amazing job with it.

The artwork on this issue was simply phenomenal and -Rom- has proven herself as a great talent for the future, being one of the best new talents that comics has seen over the last decade. The detail in her art is simply outstanding with it being extremely consistent throughout. I also loved the suspense and tone that -Rom- added to her art, with the overall atmosphere being perfect next to Porter’s script. On top of that the fact she produces her own painted colours makes her stand out even more, with the colours itself adding much more tone and depth.  The only complaint I have is that in the printed version the colours are slightly dull and after seeing some high resolution pictures that -Rom- supplied during the interview I did with her, I was slightly disappointed with the printed version.

Overall this was a great story and both of the Talent Hunt Winners should be very proud with what they've accomplished and I for one look forward to following both their careers.

Rating: 8/10

You can read my exclusive interview with Kenny Porter as well as view the preview for this issue here, as well as my exclusive interview with -Rom- here.