posted
The parade of fantastic hits continues from Image Comics, as creator-owned products dwarf DC and Marvel in terms of quality and originality. The latest is “Who is Jake Ellis?”, which provides a sleek mystery / spy series with a really excellent twist. Namely, the main character John Moore, a spy, continues to be helped by Jake Ellis, a person only he can see. The problem is no one else can detect Jake’s presence.
You may immediately think: obvi, Jake Ellis is another personality of the guy, a la Fight Club and numerous other things. But I wouldn’t jump to that conclusion. That is the obvious answer, yes, which is why I don’t think that is the case. There is something subtly sinister about Jake Ellis that makes me guess otherwise. This could end up being quite a complicated, surprising little comic.
Writer Nathan Edmondson hits all the right beats to make this story really work in terms of moving along the narrative, keeping it exciting and drawing in the reader. After putting down issue #1, I actually felt like I MUST know the answer the series title poses.
Artist Tonci Zonjic is really fantastic as well. I first noticed him on the Heralds miniseries last year where I thought his artwork was a real high point of that series. It is actually significantly better here, as Zonjic really excels at providing the moody atmosphere. He has a cartoony quality that maintains a certain level of grit to it. The style is definitely in the Darwyn Cooke school, which is a style I like quite a bit. The composition is fantastic. The way Jake Ellis is drawn, with his eyes always in shadow, is a great method to enhance the mystery.
This is an excellent comic and I highly recommend you all buy it! I had some trouble finding it to be honest since almost no stores were carrying the title; I asked my own CBS to track it down and they were able to get it on reorders (I think there are still many comics of #1 Diamond can send if there are specifically ordered). I now have it on my pull list because independent, creator-owned comics of this excellent quality need to be supported! It’s a 5 issue mini, so I expect a TPB to follow so that is another way to check it out.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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Great review of Who is Jake Ellis? #2 - I haven't read the second issue yet but intend to get to it later this week. Can't wait!
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I bought Who Is Jake Ellis? in TPB form last month based on good reviews and a recommendation by the guy who started this thread and finally got around to reading it last week.
Very solid writing on the part of Nathan Edmondson and some nice, moody art by Toci Zonjic.
But you know what? Having read it over two sittings, I've a feeling this one would've read better in its original, serialized monthly format than it did in trade. Why? Because I think the breaks and the anticipation would heighten the enjoyment here. As a trade, the story feels a little thin, incomplete and not fully unrealized than it probably did as a monthly.
Basically, as one narrative, it's essentially an extended chase scene until kind of randomly, the protagonists decide to turn the tables and get to the bottom of everything. This turn comes on a leap of faith by Jon as he decides to do what his "imaginary" friend wants to do despite having reservations.
And in the end it feels a little incomplete. We get the answer to the series question, yes, but very little beyond that. There are a lot of questions left open about Jake Ellis, including something Jake mentioned in passing earlier on about a woman he thought he remembered.
I actually think this story was a little too compressed to fully realize its dramatic potential. I'm not usually in favor of decompression, but if the story is meaty enough to merit being longer, I'm in favor of it. I think that was definitely the case here.
Yes, there's potential for a sequel, as the last panel shows, but who knows when or if we'll get one?
I know this sounds like a really negative review. But there was really a lot to like about this story despite the above. I just think we really only got part of the story here and that it was rushed through somewhat.
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
You're dead on in your assessment that as a serialized format, it worked much better. I can definitely see that as being true. There was a certain amount of tension that built between issues that had me hooked. I hadnt actually thought about it until you mentioned it. It's similar to watching the show 24 in one sitting--every done it? No tension.
Btw, the sequel has been announced and should be out at the end of 2012. Apparently it sold like hotcakes once Mark Millar included it in his Clint Magazine.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
I'd heard rumors of a sequel since before it was even finished. Good to hear one's definitely coming. I certainly wish that either the initial arc was longer or that the sequel would have followed more quickly, though.
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
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