KOUSEKI: FIRST INSIGHT #1
This is the first offering from Insomniac Machine, a group of creators based in the US, Mexico and Canada, Europe and Indonesia. The story centres around the samauri of Zeni Okoku and their conflict with the Shurajou Guntal and other external forces, supposedly from a far more sinister region. Ooh, ooh. Me so scared. Writer Tim Edstrom does a competent toil on the first of this multi-volume piece however the gallery glory really belongs to artists Jacqui More and Victor Aviles. using black, white, red, CGImitating grey watered brush and perhaps some motion blurring, the effect is, particularly at first, nothing short of brilliant. The recreated distinctly Japanese architecture and costumes explode for the face some v.worked detailing.
The complaint? This is too good to be confined to the format suffocates the artist some. Kouseki could do with more investment in page layout, a tinkering with the current thin-line panel borders. the quality paper suits, is not misused, is deserved. I don't know my samauri comics, but I hope these folks stick with their schedule; a promising first issue.
Kouseki is 20 pages, A5 with a colour cover. It's available from Insomniac Machine, 5500 Laurent Drive 515D, Cleveland, OH 44129, Attn: Jacqui More
Although postage is American $1.60, I don't have a price for this. Contact contactim@insomniacmachine.com, also check out listings over at Ian Shires' Small Press Association/Dimestore Productions
Insomniac Machine also have a website, which really isn't a very good reflection of this comic, at all.