I picked up “The Dying and The Dead” today at my local comic store. The guy at the counter recommended it along with several others, so I picked this one up to see what it was all about. Jonathan Hickman is the writer behind this new series. This issue contains 60 pages, though it certainly doesn't feel that long. The story progresses quickly and provides the reader with enough information to always know what is happening.
The issue starts out with a cryptic, violent wedding sequence and an inner dialogue about relationships. The opening was done perfectly. It was poignant and brought about just the right amount of violence without going too far. After that we meet the protagonist of the story, the Colonel, a man who is watching his wife die from cancer. The story gets interesting, and visually breathtaking, when we learns that the cancer is terminal and we are introduced to a representative of an ancient race. The Colonel is is taken to The City, where this ancient race exists. The City is incredibly impressive and the art in this particular part of the story is absolutely amazing.
There's nothing too deep about the story, but there is enough there to be thought provoking. There is dialogue that covers the Abrahamic religions and older mythology. Colonel's interaction with these beings is short and terse and they seem to speak to him in a condescending or dismissive tone. They don't seem to hold back where the Colonel is concerned and even go so far as to offer him a way out. One character, The Bishop, and the Colonel have met but we aren't privy to too much of their past interaction. Bishop offers The Colonel a deal and with this offering, the future of the story begins.
Posted by: Jeff @jeff201