Raven Nevermore 3, Midnighr Dreary. Nuno Xei (Writer), Xerx Javier (Art), Axel Rator (Colours), Ed Brisson (Letters), Samuel Cassal (Cover Artist). XEI (2019)

In this issue the story explodes as a lot of information is provided. Corvan Moore sets about paying the price demanded for the lives of his children. The various groups and individuals who know much more than Corvan are all in motion and trouble starts to come to a boil. Bits of information, hints and allegations abound as new cast members make an entrance and the existing cast move their plans forward. What pins it together is how determined Corvan seems to be to avoid understanding what is going on, he is rushing into action without reflecting on why other can drive him so fast. There is clearly a larger story emerging, there are events happening that will only make sense when the greater context is revealed. Nuno Xei is a confident enough writer to be able to assemble a partial jigsaw in an issue and not frustrate the reader, rather it creates a nice anticipation for how it will play out.
Xerx Javier’s art continues to add detail to the world of Raven Nevermore as new member join the cast and the action develops and extends. The costumes are a pleasure to see, they nicely mix up historical and fantastical to great effect and give the world depth and detail. The shifts from one story to another are very nicely managed, and the art brings out all of the strength of the writing.
With glowing colours, Axel Rator, gives a flashy exuberant life to the story that is needed to make the story soar. The colours pick out the details of the art and support the emotional context with precision.
Ed Brisson’s lettering continues to be vital and unobtrusive, it is smooth and easy to read, never slowing down the flow of the story. The cover by Samuel Cassal is rapidly developing into a powerful declaration for the story.
This issue is full of the sounds of story gears shifting, I am looking forward to where we are going.

Raven Nevermore 2, Tempter Sent. Nuno Xei (Writer), Xerx Javier (Art), Axel Rator (Colours), Ed Brisson (Letters), Samuel Cassal (Cover Artist). XEI (2019)

Second issue of an engaging fantasy series that moves the story forward with confident storytelling. Corvan Moore, a law enforcement office in Cog Town had discovered a horrible event at the end of issue one. Corvan starts out to deal with this and finds that he is getting deeper and deeper into trouble and danger for himself and others.
Raven Nevermore has two stories running at the same time, the upfront story of Corvan More and his fight with a criminal organisation in CogTown. The there is a second story that in running underneath this one. In issue two these two stories start to cut across each other more explicitly as it revealed that Corvan knows less than he should and others know more. This places Convan at a very dangerous disadvantage and leads to a terrible result.
Nuno Xei writes with wonderful confidence, moving from one story to another with assurance and deft skill, this allows the reader to relax into the story and enjoy the hints and revelations as they arise. The suspense is carefully created and maintained as the cast become more diverse and the circumstances considerably more dangerous and threatening.
 Xerx Javier art is friendly and engaging, the cast move though the crowded streets and strange drains of Cog Town with physical force and impact. The lovely costumes give the scenes a great sense of place and time that hold the story firmly in place. There is a mix of historical context and science fiction, fantasy that is all presented as natural and coherent.
The colouring is crucial to the success of the story, it bring out the details of the art , gives force to the action, and captures the emotional context for the action. Axel Rator uses muted colours to bring the different elements of the story together with understated skill.
Ed Brisson letters with care and attention to detail that allows the words to flow in the artwork, reveal the story and cat without ever interrupting the action.
Samuel Cassal cover is a joy, it announces the work of a very talented group pf creators with force.
There is a very enjoyable glossary at the end of the issue which I read with pleasure, the details gave a greater depth to the world of Raven Nevermore.
Raven Nevermore is unfolding in a most intriguing and engaging way, I am very happy to be along for the ride.

Raven Nevermore Issue 1: Days of Yore. Nuno Xei (Writer), Xerx Javier (Art), Axel Rator (Colours), Ed Brisson (Letters), Samuel Casal (Cover Art). XEI (2018)

A very engaging and enjoyable opening issue to a fantasy story. Corvan Moore is a a law enforcement officer in the city of Cog Town and he is involved in a case where a new drug is being distributed by a local crime family. Corvan makes an arrest matters take a turn for the worse. The crime family respond directly to the pressure Corvan is exerting and a strange episode involving Corvan's son hints at unseen forces lurking in the background.
The story starts in one direction and steadily moves in a different one without confusion or the story mechanics tripping each other up. This is a considerable achievement by Nuni Xei as the story lines seems to be moving in two very different directions. The sort of standard fantasy story story  featuring a law enforcement office is set up very well and has a nice edge to it. There is enough force and menace to the crime family to give the storyline weight. The second storyline that emerges in hints and flashes is very different, it does not upset the balance of the cover story, instead it point neatly to new possibilities for the story and the reader. This issue announces its intentions and gives enough sense of the possibilities to capture the reader.
 Xerx Javier's art is done with a flourish  that both story lines need. The cover story of the fight against a criminal gang in a city id observed in close detail, the cast are full of energy and determination. Both Corvan Moore and his opponents are determined and willing to fight for what they want. The details of the city they move through are st up so that the physical context frames them and gives the action a real force. The second story is nicely bound up in a domestic family setting as Corvan's family are enmeshed in a very strange day. The cast are all individual and strongly expressive, they wear their costumes and move in a natural way, their body language is lucid and expressive.
The colours by  Axel Rator bring out the details of the art as well as strongly expressing the emotional tones of the story. They create an atmosphere of tension and threat that nicely picks up the nuances of the story.
Ed Brisson's lettering is natural and easy to read, they flow in the story never slowing down the reader. The sound effects are neatly place and expressive, they give a extra push to the story.
The cover is a pleasure to read and look at, Samuel Casal has captured the sense of the story and provided an intriguing image for the reader.
Raver Nevermore: Days of Yore does what a first issue should do with confidence and flair, establish the story, introduce the cast and invite the reader along for the ride. I am very happy to accept that invitation.

Rat Queens Volume One: Sass and Sorcery. Kurtis J. Eiebe (Writer), Roc Upchurch (Art), Ed Brisson (Letters), Image Comics (2014)

This is a very engaging, entertaining and frequently very funny update of the sword and sorcery genre. The Rat Queens are a gang of female mercenaries based in the city of Palisades, they and other assorted gangs are causing considerable problems due to brawling in the city. They are all given tasks by the mayor to get them out of the city, the tasks turn out to be rather different than expected. The Rat Queens return to the city to discover who had set them up and the story unrolls wonderfully from there right down to the unexpected and nicely dark hook for the next story arc.

Kurtis J. Eiebe has captured one of the essentials for a sword & sorcery story, the book fizzles with energy, the entire cast are all loud and vital, each demanding and rewarding a slice of the reader’s attention. The Rat Queens themselves are everything they should be, loving a fight, deeply loyal to each other and trouble for everyone else. They jump off the page with fully formed characters and distinctive approaches to the problems of killing assassins or trolls. They are warrior women who breeze past all the clichés that stand in their way to capture the essence of sword and sorcery and make it their own. They do so in a vividly realised context with a supporting cast who push forward as much as they can, the balance between them all is a joy to behold.

Roc Upchurch’s art is simply stunning, an astonishing combination of very strong character work and very clever panel lays outs that drive and draw out the nuances of the story. The cast move and interact with their context very naturally, the action is fierce and wildly over the top, but never stupid. It is catches just the degree of exaggeration that the genre requires to allow the cast be the larger-than-life characters that they are. Friendship is critical to the story and the expressive art brings it out without ever forcing the issue.

One of the great strengths of the book is Ed Brisson’s lettering and sound effects, this is a really loud book, the action is big and loud and the lettering brings it up to the readers notice without ever intruding. The quieter moments are delivered with the same thoughtful care.This is a great fun book from very talented creators who know what they are doing and doing it very well.