#scott van domelan

[oosteven-universe]

Midnight Sky #4

Midnight Sky #4 Scout Comics 2019 Written by James Pruett Illustrated by Scott Van Domelen Coloured by Ilaria Fella     After discovering the Changelings' plans for human children, Jennifer, Elita, and Alejandro find themselves on the run from their hunters who are attempting to eliminate Elita as a threat, as her reputation continues to inspire the desperate humans. While attempting to avoid detection by following the remnants of antiquated airmail beacons and fire watch towers, the crew find themselves in the middle of a hijacking of a Massive Mart supply train, the only remaining economic powerhouse in the region, full of rare supplies on its way to the wealthy class that are working in conjunction with the invading horde. Will these marauders become allies or another threat?     I am really enjoying this and while in some instances it reminds me of V this really does take on a mind of it's own with how the story meanders about. I am also a huge fan of Joe's writing here as he does so much to tell the story and bring us avenues and directions that we'd never have thought it would go and or take. I mean this in the best ways that could possibly be taken. Last issue we saw Hector whom we learned was Jess' cousin who had helped her kill husband and as if that weren't enough of a shock well Joe has plenty in store for us.     The way that this is being told is pretty darn brilliant in my humble opinion. How we see the story & plot development unfold through the sequence of events and how the reader learns information is really strongly presented to the reader. The character development that we see is astonishingly good and the fact that the way the characters interact, act and react to the situations and circumstances which makes us change how we see them blows me away. The pacing is great and I really like how it takes us through the pages revealing the twists and turns along they helps to create the books ebb & flow. The way this all structured and how we see people come to decisions is something that Joe is doing extremely well and while we don't always see what's coming we want to follow regardless.     The interiors here are very nicely done. Sure there are times when I wish that the linework was a tad tighter and that the detail wasn't lost the smaller we see them. Yes I wish that backgrounds were in every panel, they do wonders when we see them in bringing us depth perception, scale and this overall sense of size and scope to the book. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a great eye for storytelling. The linework is strong and the attention to detail that we see is very well rendered. There is also the creativity and imagination that we see which is stellar stuff. The colour work we see is really nice. I like how we see the hues and tones in the colours create the shading, highlights and shadow work along with how we see the power working for Elita. ​     I also like the fact that this story isn't going to slow down anytime soon. With the direction this seems to be going and how the different avenues by different characters are being presented is great. I know famous last words and all but Hector needs to make more appearances in the future. This really is a great little book and shows why Scout Comics is always a go to company for quality books.

[oosteven-universe]

Midnight Sky #3

Midnight Sky #3 Scout Comics 2019 Written by James Pruett Illustrated by Scott Van Domelen Coloured by Ilaria Fella     "Salvation Children."     Staring into the face of death from uncaged wild animals at the Florida Zoo, Jennifer and her two children, Alejandro and Elita, must find a way to escape before becoming dinner themselves. But if that was not horrifying enough, the truth is revealed as to why hundreds, if not thousands, of children are being hunted and captured by the creatures that have invaded and are rapidly replacing humans. The answer leads them to Orlando, the city where dreams come true, but it is no longer the happy place they remember from their childhood.     We left off with Alejandro being thrown into the enclosure of white tiger. That is where we pick things up. I like that because well that was a cliffhanger ending and it was also the perfect opportunity to see what his hybrid result is. The opening here goes so much better than I could have possibly imagined it would. This dude they met, Mississippi, worked at the zoo with animals and he loves that tiger but more importantly he knows about animals, predators and the like which by the way is what they pretty much are, predators.     The story & plot development we see through the sequence of events that unfold as well as how the reader learns information is extremely well done. There is a really good strong way that these events and circumstances come about that fleshes out the story further and it's so well executed time and again. The character development continues to impress me here. This issue we get to see more of their personalities emerge and while I still don't know why Elita is still so childlike and yet Alejandro is such the teenager by contrast. Also I stated last time around I wanted to see more of Hector didn't I? Yeah I believe I did after all he's the one who helped bury her husband or the being that replaced him. The pacing for this book is amazing and how the ebb & flow of the story moves through it's pages is such a pleasant journey.     I like that this isn't so much as them being conscripted into some retaliation or resistance to fight back against these beings. Instead, for now, we're seeing them travel and talk and work out what and who they are. Jennifer has to watch herself for while she sees her children as her children she often refers to others as it's and this can put her at odds with her son. Whether he realises the difference or not is something but she's much too free with her words being used carelessly.     The interiors here are very well rendered. I like the linework and how we see the varying weights being utilised to create or bring out this attention to detail. The tiger is beautiful and I love it's visage and ferocity that we see through the work. The faces and facial expressions that we see are expressive and filled with emotion and this along with the body language really does expand the characterisation in ways the words alone just cannot do. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the perspective and the angles in the panels show a talented eye for storytelling. This is one of those book where the backgrounds are integral to the story and should be utilised to their fullest and we really do see the most being of what we see. The colour work is really well done and the subtlety that we see with it is amazingly well done. The flesh tones within the faces and how the change ever so much really create a great impact that is almost subliminal. Throughout I love the shading, highlights and shadow work done at that same level throughout the book. ​     The way that this story moves forward and how we see the twists and turns come into play leave the reader restless for more. After hearing what we have and knowing what we know, what is to come next cannot come quick enough. James is telling one hell of a story and his creative team artistically are nailing it. Scout is home to some of today's most original and interesting offerings and it's high time you found out for yourself why.

[oosteven-universe]

Midnight Sky #1 Advance Review

Midnight Sky #1 Advance Review Scout Comics 2019 On Sale Sept. 25th 2019 Written by James Pruett Illustrated by Scott Van Domelen Coloured by Ilaria Fella     Fresh from the pages of Scout Presents: Midnight Sky Free Comic Book Day, Midnight Sky is Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets They Live. What would you do if you discovered your son wasn't really your son? He may look like him, act like him, but deep down in your soul you just know... he's been replaced. Then your worst fears are realized when the light hits his face just right and you accidentally see his true appearance for yourself. But he isn't the only one you discover... your neighbour, your friend, even your husband. Do you scream? Do you run? Or do you fight back? And how can it be that your daughter is the best and, perhaps, last hope for mankind?      First let me say that a traditional splash page to open the book is a fantastic thing to see. I miss them and when we see them and see them done this well it's just a reminder that sometimes the classics shouldn't go away. The opening here is interesting to say the least. It definitely grabs the readers' attention and raises some eyebrows while the reader processes what they see. It also sets the stage characterisation wise for one character. It generates a lot of curiosity in the reader as well and what James does with this is really pull the reader in beautifully.     The way that this is structured is really well done. From the opening to the last page there is this really nice pacing of the story & plot development along with the character development. It has this way of moving through the pages creating that ebb & flow which kind of carries the reader along like the current of the ocean. Sometimes smooth, sometimes rough waters but always in motion and that's a nice thing to see in this. Also as the story moves forward, I did mention the strong pacing right, we get to see and learn a good deal about the world and what's going on which almost feels as if we are getting force fed but no not at all it all fits into the story somehow without that crowded feeling and again James impresses me with that.     The interiors here are really well done also. That first page splash page is your first look at the book and what we see is amazing. The attention to detail that we see here through the way that the varying weights of the linework are being utilised make this come to life exceptionally well. From the weathering of the buildings and the angle and viewpoint it has this near Norman Rockwell feel. This is also the same kind of work and intensity that we see throughout the issue and with the creativity and imagination this world comes to life before our eyes. The utilisation of page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a really good eye for storytelling. While there are a fair amount of backgrounds being utilised I would like to see more, really flesh out the moments and bring that sense of size and scope. When you start with some then omit them the impact lessens. I do like the colour work here as well. The way light sources are utilised to create shading and shadows and the different tones that we see as a result are a great compliment to the linework. ​     James may be CEO of Scout Comics but he has a great resume when it comes to writing and sometimes we may forget that. So I am thrilled he's back at the typewriter, god I'm old, bringing us a very unique and different take on a theme that's never been done enough. I mean this really has pod people with Independence Day vibe going on, hell even aspects of V so yeah this is why I love Scout. James showcases that great storytelling comes from everywhere and that Scout is a company you need to pay attention to! So make sure you order yours now.

[oosteven-universe]

Midnight Sky #2

Midnight Sky #2 Scout Comics 2019 Written by James Pruett Illustrated by Scott Van Domelen Coloured by Ilaria Fella     For over a decade the world has been at war with an invisible, secret enemy that is undetectable because they look like everyone else. What would your friends do or say when they discover that your children aren't what they appear to be? Jennifer finds herself in this dilemma when her son Alejandro's true identity is revealed to her fellow survivors holed up in their refuge in a former bank in south Tampa. To make matters worse, her daughter, Elita, a half-breed decides to take matters into her own hands and the results are cataclysmic.     Well after last issue when folks showed up at the bank with guns well that set Elita off and now we pick up where things left off. What an opening it is too and I have to say that I am more than a little surprised by a couple of things we learn here. Jim really manages to pull out all the stops with the writing here and that we get all of these eyebrow raising moments so quickly one after the other is not only amazingly well done but it also engages the reader, makes them think and see what's beyond the page and that is always the sign of a great writer.     The way that this is being told through the story & plot development in how we see the sequence of events unfold and how the reader learns information is exceptionally well done. The character development that we see here is constantly growing, evolving and as aspects and situations are brought to light so we see new sides of their personalities. It is really well done and I like seeing this kind of development which makes them feel more like people and two-dimension characters. When you factor the pacing, which is super strong by the way, into all this we see the twists & turns coming at us and this creates the ebb & flow for the story. So with the way that this is structured and how we feel the journey they are undertaking and that sense of dread of being discovered is all just beautifully showcased.     With our wayward siblings here we see two very different people. Elita seems so childlike in her innocence and naivete and Alejandro seems so jaded and angst ridden but far far from stupid. How we see them here is done for a myriad of reasons but is he really afraid of his sister or is he jealous? They have the same parents so why can she do what she does and he cannot? I am going with this in my head until proven otherwise but when you've got siblings and one has an ability to the other doesn't well there's more going on than meets the eye.     I am a big fan of the interiors here. The linework is lovely and the way that we see the varying weights being utilised to bring out the attention detail works on so many levels. That we see backgrounds being utilised here is fantastic and I still think there are a few missed opportunities but oh well, because when we see things like the swamp flashback, boy oh boy is that something to behold plus I like the way we see depth perception, scale and how they enhance the moments. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show this strong eye for storytelling. The colour work is sensational. There are so many different ways that the colour has to be applied, daylight, night time and of course with that cloud permanently over everything so to see colour through all that and to see the hues and tones utilised for shading and shadows is really very well done indeed. ​     So we meet Hector, albeit much too briefly, and now I want to see more of him. Oh this is a great story and the whole idea of being overtaken and not have this resistance force to fight them off, like we'd see in some Hollywood thing, makes this all the more charming and interesting to me. More like in V now that I think about it. Regardless this is well written and beautifully illustrated and it is yet another title from Scout that you need to have.