Comic Review: Cemetery Beach #5

Cemetery Beach #5

Image Comics

Writer: Warren Ellis

Artist: Joshua Howard

While somewhat lacking when it comes to world building and character development, Cemetery Beach #5 puts it’s a new spin on its endless chase. After a disastrous encounter with the secessionists of Drum and the colony’s soldiers, Michael and Grace take a more terrestrial path to reach their means of escape. While the book wasn’t completely restricted to the air previously, the combat now feels a lot more three dimensional. What’s happening on the ground is equally important as what’s happening above it. Previously the book favored one over the other. Additionally, Cemetery Beach #5 finally shows the “normal” people of this setting. Albeit in a very limited manner. Even then, seeing regular city dwellers amidst all this chaos says enough on its own. Especially when you consider what came before them.

Cemetery Beach #5 also tries to give Michael more of a motivation than just “escape.” Unfortunately, it’s not very original. After some more daring feats, Grace informs Michael that she has him figured it out. Michael is seeking a “good” death, hence his willingness to brave a hostile world and put himself in danger. I expected something a little more original, especially from an Ellis book. However, Michael’s subsequent actions, which lead to some questionable deaths, and his subdued response makes me suspect Cemetery Beach is intentionally misleading the reader. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time and the other characters’ insane, contradictory beliefs set a certain precedent.

Once again, credits to Jason Howard’s energetic artwork. I imagine even a writer as talented as Ellis would have trouble with such a bizarre setting and simplistic setup. Chase scenes are difficult to pull off, especially in the context of a comic. Pat Mills famously said that part of his inspiration for Nemesis the Warlock came from complaints about a pursuit heavy Ro-Busters story he wrote. But Howard’s art gives Cemetery Beach enough excitement to rival similar content in movies and TV show. His visuals have a flow and liveliness to them that all mediums, not just comics, could use more of. The style itself is perfectly suited for the world of Cemetery Beach, as it’s bizarre without being indecipherable. The book’s dystopia is distinctly human, not alien.

With only two issues left, it’s impressive to see how Cemetery Beach has stayed on track all the way through. It’s not the most cerebral Ellis’ story but it shows that he can handle a more conventional comic narrative just as well as his more experimental ones. At this point, Cemetery Beach only needs to keep its momentum.