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Eleventh Hour

Graphic Novel 1

Trade Paperback 80 Pages

Black and WhiteRelease Date:Thursday, June 05, 2008 Price: £5.95 $9.99 

Well,this is the first volume of Orang Utan Comics anthology series published by Markosia. 

 

Now when I reviewed the comic a while back I was a little critical.  So,when I met artist Simon Wyatt and [oh please let my memory work!] Peter Rogers,at the Comic Expo I was pleased that they took it all in their stride.  In fact,they handed me a copy of this book!

 

This book is great.  I can’t really criticise any of the art because there are no real problems.  “Black and White” is a bit of a fib that doesn’t tell you that grey tones have been used.  Normally I get a little critical about grey tones because a lot of artists use it either badly or to hide problems in their artwork.  Not the case here.  The grey tones are used to great effect and add a lot to the art –the strip “Mamluk” was in fact colour work that was grey-toned.

 

“Eye Of The Storm” written by Peter Rogers and drawn by Azim Akberali was in the comic I reviewed and is included in this book due to someone letting the editor down at the,uh,eleventh hour. Still a good strip.

 

The same team produce “Seniors” which is interesting.  Two old men meet in a retirement home and immediately the sparks fly.  In their younger days they were deadly enemies –Doomhawk and Captain Courage!  Can’t wait for part 2!

 

“Daughters Of Lilith” is written by Ian Sharman and art is by Diego Simone –a nice stylish piece.

 

Some very nice art on “The Sweetest Thing” by Cherie Donovan and art by Dhonnie “Dagger” Punzalan.

 

“Rise And Shine” by,again,Sharman is drawn by Eric M. Smith.  This is my favourite. There is a great villain and the art is slick.  Remember the name Eric M. Smith because if he does not have a future at Marvel,DC or some other big comic company then there is no justice. Excellent.

 

“Danick and the Dragon” is written and pencilled by Ian Sharman and inked by Simon Wyatt.  I’m hoping to spotlight some of Simon’s work on CBO soon.

 

“The Mist” by Cherie Donovan is pencilled by Scott Larson and inked and toned by Sharman  and a nice piece.  “Innocence” is again by Donovan with some great looking art by John Charles who,like Eric M. Smith should have a bright future ahead of him.

 

Sharman writes “Ghost Boy” which is drawn by Donna Stewart and is definitely there for the Manga fans who might complain there is nothing in the book for them!  Nice work.

 

“The Last Days Of Cydonia” is another Sharman piece with  pencils by Riccardo Latina,inked by  Slamet Mujiono and toned by

Carolina bertacchi.  Nice piece of sci fi with a little twist at the end.

 

“Mamluk” should also make the sci fi buffs happy.  Written by Trey Wickwire,pencilled by Steven Yarbrough,inked by Dylan Johnson and toned by Melissa Kaercher and lettered by Richard Nelson.  Veeeery slick.

 

“Just Married” by Peter Rogers is drawn by Edson Alves and toned by Walter Porto. Now come on –an out-of-the-way bar;who stops at those?

 

I have to say that this book was far better than I expected and I’d recommend it.  Great talent and great book.

 

 

If you want to see what else is available from Markosia you can go to:

www.markosia.com