Geiger #6

Geiger #6

Image Comics/Mad Ghost 2021

Created & Written by Geoff Johns

Created & Illustrated by Gary Frank

Coloured by Brad Anderson

Lettered by Rob Leigh

The first volume of Image Comics’ newest hit hero, GEIGER, concludes with this DOUBLE-SIZED ACTION FINALE as our resident radioactive rebel takes on a relic from the past to save his family’s future. But the adventures are only beginning for Geiger, as he discovers a secret about the Unknown War and its mysterious origins. Plus, a special sneak preview of GEOFF JOHNS and GARY FRANK’s next upcoming title in the Geigerverse and much, much more!

I want to say I’m surprised by just how good this series is but considering the level of talent involved it should come as no surprise. I think the surprise actually comes from the subject matter and how the story itself is being told. This isn’t something we’ve really seen before and that Tariq has gone out of his way to really help these kids and break all his self-imposed rules along the way. Plus all the twists & turns not to mention revelations and the tender and heartwarming moments all conspire to really make this a much more fully well-rounded read than you might have expected it to be.

I am a huge fan, supporter, mad happy camper at the way in which this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is presented exceptionally well. The character development we see through the narration, the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter. Their personalities are ever changing, evolving based on these encounters and it’s just beautifully showcased throughout the work. The pacing is excellent and as it takes us through the pages revealing more of the story the more we’re pulled into this world in ways that continue to surprise us.

How we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow, evolve and strengthen throughout the issue is magnificent to see. These layers open up various avenues or explore those already opened and how they do this adds so much wonderful depth, dimension and complexity to the story. How we see everything working together to create the story’s ebb & flow as well as how it moves the story forward is impeccably achieved.

I have said it before and I’ll say it again this may be some of the best work from Gary that I think I’ve ever seen. The man has this extraordinary talent and while it still at its core is instantly recognisable there’s an evolution to the work that really makes it stand out for me. The linework is clean, crisp and sharp and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised throughout to create this level & quality of detail work we see is bloody brilliant. The way that backgrounds are being utilised enhance and expand the moments as well as work within the composition of the panels to bring out the depth perception, sense of scale and the overall sense of size and scope to the story with such aplomb. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masterful eye for storytelling. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work shows this brilliant eye for how colour works. The greens with the yellows in creating the nuclear effects that we see and how the bleeding and gradation come into play are really rather exceptionally well rendered.

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What I’m thrilled about is that this is just the end of the first arc. We are getting further and further away from ongoing monthly series in favour of arcs and I’m okay with that so long as I know that we’ll be getting those arcs. Well that and the next issue is actually seven instead of trying to capitalise on a new number one. This really is just too good a series to end anytime soon, or at least until it’s run its natural course. With some extraordinary writing and sensationally dynamic characterisation that’s brought to life with these utterly brilliant interiors Geiger is here for the long haul.