By Vance & Van Hamme
Publisher: Cinebook
ISBN: 978-1-84918-065-8
After the previous volume's conspiratorial clash some time has passed and the dust given time to settle, but XIII is still unsure as to who he really is. We join him as he arrives in the snowy mountain community of Green Falls and it isn't long before events begin to look off-kilter. It also begins to look as if, for once, XIII has actually made a solid connection to his past, but before he can discover anything of any depth he's caught between a group of locals attempting to protect a secret and an old foe looking to silence him once and for all. But with the now 'Major' Jones still recovering from her injuries following the previous story arc, XIII looks like he may have bitten off more than he can chew for once.
Once again a multi-layered, multi-character visual-fest from Van Hamme and Vance keep the story powering forward having answered so many questions and raised many more in Full Red. Despite having gone through such a mind-boggling identity crisis, the creators settle us down with some tangible titbits that hint at a resolution to XIII's nightmare and the revelation of why it all happened.
It seems that whatever Van Hamme writes, whatever scenario he concocts, Vance is more than happy and capable to tackle the art chores with some fantastically detailed work. In this volume alone we have everything from a panoramic snow covered town and an avalanche to busy restaurant scenes and a fall from a tower block, not to mention a vast cast of characters, beautifully rendered vehicles and buildings, and lavishly detailed interiors.
We're a third of the way through this epic now and I'm still enjoying it tremendously. Hats off to Cinebook, and roll on the next volume.
And if you liked that: Volume 7 is available soon
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