Comic Review: Eclipse #9

Eclipse #9

Image Comics

Writer: Zack Kaplan

Artist: Giovanni Timpano

After a one-year hiatus, Zack Kaplan has returned to his debut work Eclipse. It’s his unique take on a post-apocalyptic world that is set in the not-so-distant future, where a solar flare has made exposure to sunlight fatal. After billions of lives were lost, society moved underground only coming up to the surface in protective suits or at night.

For those unfamiliar with the title, the first volume was an intense and tightly-packed story about a serial killer out for revenge which I highly recommend. Personally, I felt volume #2 went a little downhill. The attempts to expand the universe were successful but came at the cost of having some forgettable villains.

Fortunately, this latest issue introduces their best antagonist yet with an opening fight sequence that would make Batman proud. He’s clearly more cunning and deadly than even the serial killer but what really makes him stand out is his opening monologue. Without giving too much away, it has just the right mix of moral righteousness and disdain for the city, which is slightly reminiscent of Rorschach in Watchmen. We’re given more insight into his thoughts in this one issue than the serial killer or prisoner got in their entire run and it works wonderfully.

It’s hard not to focus on the characters as they tend to drive the story. Kaplan has established a great cast of policemen, engineers, rebels and more. While the sides are relatively clear, no one is purely good or evil. The heroes struggle with the brutal nature of the world while the villains show some doubt that they’re doing the right thing.

The standout character so far has been Cielo, whose development from “innocent princess” into a rebel has been one of the best arcs. This issue promises she will continue to share the lead role with Baxter who remains his stoic self but could do with returning to the heart of events.

Eclipse moves forward extremely quickly and benefits from tense action sequences that quickly hook readers in. And even though things move quickly, at no point do you feel lost. Both characters and the plot develop naturally and it’s easy to keep up with what’s going on. In the past some actions haven’t had the impact they should have but it is simply too early to tell if that will be a problem this time.

The art team has also returned with the same flair as before. Issue #9 has one of the most dynamic covers yet, with the sun ominously glaring down a street while people struggle to take cover. Giovanni Timpano’s interpretation of the ruined city being cast against the haunting pale yellows and whites of the sun is captivating. These encroaching rays of light continue to be a source of constant tension in the story which is reinforced by Timpano’s gruesome depiction of those unfortunate enough to be caught in them.

Returning fans will find all the qualities they enjoyed in previous installments and Kaplan has planted the seeds to expand his universe even further. To truly appreciate the return of Eclipse, I have to recommend that newcomers try the previous two volumes first or some of the key character relationships won’t make much sense.