Escape Volume 1
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Daniel Acuña
Publisher: Image Comics
Rick Remender has written some comics I’ve enjoyed over the years, Black Science, Fear Agent, Low, Tokyo Ghost, so I’m always interested when a new title from him comes my way.
When Escape arrived, the graphic novel collecting the first six issues, I put a double ‘XX’ on the file to make sure it was on my ‘must-read’ list.
On Goodreads.com, one of my favourite websites, Escape was described as Inglourious Basterds meets Watership Down, which I suppose is pretty accurate. However, at least until the main character parachutes from his destroyed bomber, it reminded me of a darker version of Memphis Belle.
Regardless of the comparables, Escape is a story that closely mimics WWII but is told through anthropomorphic animals.
In this tale, Milton Shaw is a battle-hardened bomber pilot flying missions over a war-torn world ruled by a ruthless empire (the American pilot over Germany parallel is obvious). His plane is shot out of the sky, and Milton is the only member of the crew to survive, parachuting into the city that the bombs they dropped helped destroy.
Injured and behind enemy lines, he is aided by what should be enemy civilians. It seems like an unlikely place to find common ground, but they do.
It’s a compelling story set in the midst of a dark war, the darkness brought stunningly to life by Daniel Acuña’s moody painted art.
The only thing I didn’t like is that I now have to wait for more of this compelling story in a future collection.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Escape Volume 1
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Daniel Acuña
Publisher: Image Comics
Rick Remender has written some comics I’ve enjoyed over the years, Black Science, Fear Agent, Low, Tokyo Ghost, so I’m always interested when a new title from him comes my way.
When Escape arrived, the graphic novel collecting the first six issues, I put a double ‘XX’ on the file to make sure it was on my ‘must-read’ list.
On Goodreads.com, one of my favourite websites, Escape was described as Inglourious Basterds meets Watership Down, which I suppose is pretty accurate. However, at least until the main character parachutes from his destroyed bomber, it reminded me of a darker version of Memphis Belle.
Regardless of the comparables, Escape is a story that closely mimics WWII but is told through anthropomorphic animals.
In this tale, Milton Shaw is a battle-hardened bomber pilot flying missions over a war-torn world ruled by a ruthless empire (the American pilot over Germany parallel is obvious). His plane is shot out of the sky, and Milton is the only member of the crew to survive, parachuting into the city that the bombs they dropped helped destroy.
Injured and behind enemy lines, he is aided by what should be enemy civilians. It seems like an unlikely place to find common ground, but they do.
It’s a compelling story set in the midst of a dark war, the darkness brought stunningly to life by Daniel Acuña’s moody painted art.
The only thing I didn’t like is that I now have to wait for more of this compelling story in a future collection.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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