Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #4

Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #4

Ahoy Comics 2021

Written by Mark Russell

Pencilled by Richard Pace

Inked by Leonard Kirk

Coloured by Andy Troy

Lettered by Rob Steen

THE STORY SO FAR…

Sunstar is worried about impending fatherhood; will his superhero career attract danger to his wife and child? Jesus turns down a partnership with a conniving prosperity preacher and, in the process, gains a new disciple.

I am so very much enjoying this series. I mean Jesus is hanging out with Sunstar and his wife and they are very obviously having an influence on each other's lives and it’s great to see. Then there’s Agnes and she’s a freakin 'hoot and a half all on her own and I don’t know what her real issue is, like she has some kind of mental problem or she’s just cranky and feeling unloved and dumped in this home. Between the arcs we are seeing here the book is amazingly well rendered and runs so that each is distinct but still ties into each other beautifully. Overall while it felt somewhat familiar at first this has very quickly become something quite unique and original so it just surpasses any and all expectations and it really showcases that there are ways to make a play on something and make it so distinct it’s completely its own entity.

I am a fan of the way that 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 exceedingly well. The character development that we see through the dialogue, the character interaction as well as how they act and react to the situations and circumstances which they encounter keep their personalities and the slight changes they have at the forefront. The pacing is excellent and how it takes us through the pages keeps us in both fits of laughter and engaged in some serious ways.

How we see this being structured and how the layers within the story continue to emerge, grow and evolve are magnificently rendered. I like how we see the avenues within the layers opening up and those that are explored and those that aren’t all still add some interesting depth, dimension and complexity to the story. The way 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’m an absolute fan of how we see the interiors here. They are a more traditional comic book style in appearance and it really fits for this book. Great moments like John’s shirt from his grandson yeah that was utterly fantastic. The linework is phenomenal and how we see the varying weights and techniques being utilised to create the detail work we see throughout the book is amazingly well rendered. I mean I love the wrinkles, or laugh lines, and the liver spots and such on the old age bus. It shouldn't bring me joy, that’ll be me in fifteen years or so, but it totally does. The creativity and imagination doesn’t stop there as seeing Jesus with his friends talking about the Torah and his meeting The Magdalene well that’s phenomenal stuff. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a remarkably talented eye for storytelling. The various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work is rendered exceptionally well.

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There are some subtle and some overt aspects of this book and they balance each with such apparent ease. It’s not that easy but that Mark makes it seem like it is but it showcases the man's talent, skill and ability to craft such a wonderful story. What could be seen as a parody is actually one hell of a great fun and interesting read thanks to how we see this incredibly well balanced writing and this stellar characterisation along with these wonderful interiors.