Image Comics Review: Undiscovered Country #3

Review: Undiscovered Country #3

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Charles Soule and Scott Snyder

Artists: Giuseppe Camuncoli and Daniele Orlandini 

Letters: Crank!

Colors:  Matt Wilson  

Reviewed by: Carl Bryan

Summary

New York Times bestselling writers SCOTT SNYDER (WYTCHES, A.D.: AFTER DEATH) and CHARLES SOULE (CURSE WORDS, the forthcoming novel Anyone) will team up with artists GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (The Amazing Spider-Man, Darth Vader, Hellblazer) and DANIELE ORLANDINI (Darth Vader) and 2019 Eisner Award-winning colorist MATT WILSON (THE WICKED AND THE DIVINE, PAPER GIRLS) to embark on an epic adventure in the brand-new ongoing series, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY!

The expedition undertakes a desperate attempt to rescue a member of the team from the Destiny Man’s strange caravan city. Success or certain doom hinges on Americana expert Ace Kenyatta, PhD—what he knows about the new lands…and what he doesn’t.

Positives

It turns out that there is more than meets the eye with Dr. Ace Kenyatta.  Is he crazy or has he stumbled onto a “time bubble” within the US that exists.  This issue gives us the back drop to his origin and his place on the team.  

However, the science behind his presence is a thrill a minute read.  Never has a coin been so important in an issue of a comic since the flip of a coin by Two-Face.

Daniel and Lottie – lots of layers to their relationship.  And as it turns out, Daniels been to the US a few times looking for their father, who may or may not be dead.

Positives (even more accolades)

I can’t brag enough about the story telling.  The big box store commentary is priceless and the fact that one of these is now a market place akin to something we would see in Blade Runner…priceless.  The language is akin to the dialect spoken in Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns. 

Whether intentional or not, its a cool homage to the futuristic and ostracized inhabitants of both comic worlds.  Love those Easter Eggs!

The extra quotes through the book…the lady who was fortunate to be on an earlier flight to Italy or the man who lost millions of dollars in an investment in the US prior to “The Sealing” off of the US.  This is such a great part of the story telling!

Negatives 

None…this is some original stuff.  And a reader needs to read every issue and see the time line that peppers each issue.  Clues are given in each issue that provides why the US  ostracized itself from the rest of the world.  What about Alaska and Hawaii?  What about Canada and Mexico?  There are a lot more layers to this onion that Snyder and Soule have in store.  Read the Sealing timeline.

Verdict

What?  It’s not already on your shelf?  Buy this book!  And go back and obtain Issue #1 and #2.  It’s ground floor original stuff!  And I hear that a proposed movie or mini-series is on the horizon.  

The art is strong and the back drop is worthy of Tatooine, Mad Max and a Wal Mart commercial all rolled into one!  The writing is superlative and the pace is like that of an action movie.