We’ve talked to the writer, we’ve talked to the artist, but now “Point of Impact” #1 will either stand or fall on its own. (Hint: It does.) This will be a spoiler free review.
Written by Jay Faerber
Illustrated by Koray Kuranel
A gripping, provocative four-part crime series from acclaimed writer Jay Faerber and stunning new artist Koray Kuranel begins with one woman’s murder and branches out to follow the investigation by three people with personal connections to her: her husband, an investigative reporter; her lover, an ex-soldier; and her friend, a homicide detective. Her death will change all of their lives.
The premise for this story is a creative challenge in itself. In a regular ongoing series, writers sometimes struggle to introduce one character (or a team) in a single issue, but they have the comfort of later issues to delve into them deeper. This arrangement demands Faerber to introduce three characters, do so with them interacting with each other in limited amounts or not at all, and to do it in four issues. Luckily for readers, “Point of Impact” succeeds.
In this first issue, the husband gets most of the page time. From his first scene, he is shown realistically, and his casual comments about his wife let you know he’s a hard working reporter who feels bad about leaving his loving wife at home. This is followed immediately by a gut-wrenching cut to her lover. By the end of the book, you’ll care enough about the husband to dread his discovery of her infidelity. The homicide detective gets a fair share of the page herself, and the excuse for her investigating the death of an acquaintance is believable. Through some exposition with her partner, the story establishes all the characters with speaking roles as complex individuals, and not just plot devices. The lover gets the least amount of coverage, but he’s built up through short scenes and cameos.
Beginning with the cover, which is also the first panel of the story, the plot moves at a steady pace. Faerber stays with each scene long enough to let you sink your teeth into the characters, building tension with natural dialogue, then jumps to a different scene and repeats the process. The end result is a crescendo revealing larger stakes, leaving you wanting the next issue today. If he keeps this up, the final chapter will be a gripping finale.
Debuting artist Koray Kuranel does wonderful work. When it was solicited as black & white, I expected “Point of Impact” to utilize grayscale for effect. Instead, it’s REALLY just black and white. The choice is a bold one, and can result in art which is hard to decipher. That is not the case here. Look at the two samples below:
On the left is a scene filled with a variety of features: It has motion, shadows, and a fully detailed background. Despite all the content, there is no confusion about what’s being shown. Each part of the image is distinct without detracting from what you’re supposed to see. This is hands down the best panel in the issue. On the right, the lover waits for his lady in the worst image of the issue. It’s still clear with a detailed scene, but the lack of grayscale hurts the mood. This room is lit by candlelight, but the sharp contrast in the pallet is more reminiscent of a single bare light bulb. More subtle shading would’ve enhanced this panel greatly, especially so if it were the only panel in the issue to use it. Of course, since this is the worst image in 32 pages, the book is obviously has some top quality art.
Finally, “Point of Impact” includes more of Faerber’s column, ‘Under the Influence.’ It’s a carry-over from his previous series, “Near Death”, and he uses it to recommend older crime stories (usually a television show, but it covers all media) he enjoys. It’s a hit or miss bonus, depending on the reader’s familiarity or interest in his pick for the month. Odds are, though, anyone interested in this title will be interested in at least something he has to say in these columns.
At 32 pages, this book is worth your $3 more than most comics on the stands. This should be a purchase for anyone interested in crime comics, and the only reason to pass it up is to tradewait it. But why would you? In an industry overflowing with tights and capes, genre comics and the teams behind them, especially good ones, deserve to be supported monthly
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
