Seven to Eternity

Saw Seven to Eternity #4 on the shelf at The Great Escape and had to pick it up and have a good look at the cover. Not only was it a very nice piece of artwork, the design was also quite cool--it looked like a poster for a movie. So I turned  to the first page. Didn't know who the artist, Jerome Opeña was, but I liked his style. A lot. And I did recognize the writer, Rick Remender, as I'd read and liked several of his books: Black Science, Low, Tokyo Ghost. I didn't want to come in on the fourth issue, though, so I looked to see what else was available, and there were issues 3 and 2, but no 1. So I reluctantly put #4 back on the shelf, but when I got home I put Comixology to work, and there was issue #1 for a mere $1.99 (the print copy price is $3.99). 

I just finished reading that issue, and I'm pretty sure I'll be buying #2 and #3 in the very near future. (I'll hold off on #4 until it drops down to $1.99, though. Day Old Bread is just fine by me.)

Mr. Opeña's art is just stunning--and it looks so great on a Kindle. That backlighting really brings out the fine linework and the lovely Matt Hollingsworth colors. (BTW, you can see some great examples of Opeña's art if you go to Tumblr and search his name.) And the story is pretty intriguing. There are some rather startling plot twists even in this first issue . . . more than enough to make me want to see what happens next. And some most excellent characters.

Seven to Eternity is being billed as a "fantasy" title, but it looks like science fiction to me. Which warms my cockles, as science fiction comic books seem to be enjoying a resurgence of late, mostly due to Image Comics. I may have to go back and catch up on Black Science and Low, come to think of it, as I enjoyed both of those books but stopped buying them to cut costs in the days before I was comfortable getting e-comics instead of print ones.

Also, there are two nice special Seven to Eternity releases coming up in the near future: a paperback collection of the first four issues (which will go for $7.20 on Amazon for a print copy, $7.99 on Comixology) and a Seven to Eternity Giant-Sized Artists' Proof Edition containing issues 1 and 2 to be published March 15, 2017 for $24.99 . . . which I may have to grab, as I'd really like to see Opeña's art in that larger (11" x 17") size and (even though I love the color) in black and white. 

ADDENDUM: Bought issues 2 and 3 and read 'em. Want more.