Written by Nathan Edmondson
Illustrated by Tonci ZonjicCHAPTER TWO
To every action, a reaction. The botched op in Barcelona has exposed Jon, and he is on the run–but from whom, he can’t exactly say. As the game of cat and mouse plays out, Jon discovers something about Jake that threatens all of Jon’s assumptions about the only man who can protect him from what’s coming.
The first part of Jake Ellis offered an incredibly unsuspected by outwardly stylistic action comic that just oozed creativity. Seriously – if you picked up the comic, it was actually dripping. So as the story moves forward into it’s next chapter, along with a few new notes and “revelations”, how does the story continue to play out?
Check behind the cut for some thoughts.
Whenever we as consumers take the time to invest in something, the basic understanding that we agree to in exchange for our money for is entertainment from a 22 page floppy. We want excitement, escapism, intriguing characters, in-depth storylines, mysteries and thriller galore. We want Maximus Decimus Meridius shouting at us, “Are you not entertained?!” This is why we repeatedly go to the same character-based properties on a weekly basis, because we know that these are characters we can trust. Thusly, when it comes to the independent publishers, people are often less willing to throw their eggs into any baskets due to the fear of pay-off, especially in an issue by issue basis (also known as “Wait For Trade Syndrome”).
Now, as far as independent comics go, Image is steadily holding the title for as the top publisher for “original comics from people you may never have heard of before.” With their submission process allowing new creators shots at the “big time” on a weekly basis, it seems that almost every week you can find something from Image that is worth buying. The then fortunate fact of the matter is that Who Is Jake Ellis? is certainly no different, because it delivers all that I had previously noted before and then some.
Jake Ellis is a genre-fueled thriller attempting to put it’s own mark on the “rogue operative” storyline, putting our unassuming “hero” Jon at Jake’s discretion, as Jake acts an unseen force guiding Jon through rather lage parallels. The latest chapter gives us some brief looks into the assumed “origin” of the character, giving hints as to who Jake really is while also establishing our unseen villains as a greater threat. It also adds more to the dynamic between Jake and Jon, as beforehand we had been able to assume that they were not only the same person but also friends. Now the assumptions are proving to be less reliable as the plot inevitably thickens, and the mystery of Who Is Jake Ellis becomes a more prevalent query overlaying the comic.
Just about everything in this hyper-stylized comic entertains. Edmondson comes at the writing like a dagger, explicitly cutting his way through scene after scene and rather distinctly weaving in the secret spy that is Jake Ellis into reality. The first issue gave us a great opening sequence with and without Jake, and while the second issue doesn’t have that it finds interesting ways to bring Jake into the mix. Giving Jake his own distinct voice also helps to question the reality of the story, as Jake openly admits that while Jon is doing anything but spy stuff, Jake is still there… sitting, watching, waiting. Edmondson also throws in little bits to help clue the reader into what is going on, and the chapter format of the comic helps show exactly where the title is headed. It’s also interesting to see what kind of obvious research went into the book, such as the gun sequence where Jake explains to Jon how to dismantle and reassemble his gun before a gunman can take him down. It’s a very intense sequence, and one that is made all that much better by Zonjic’s fantastic art.
It’s really Zonjic’s art that pulls the reader towards the comic. Right off the bat, Zonjic’s panel choices as well as colors offer up a very unique look that helps to distinguish this comic from the rest. It’s incredibly stylistic and absolutely pops from cover to cover. It was the art that originally drew me to the title, and the second issue is no different. With the same big sequences and feel, Zonjic is creating one of the most distinct comic books on the shelves right now, and it’d be a true shame not to give it a look.
While the title will almost certainly read fantastically as a collected entity in trade, it’s certainly a heck of a ride in the segregated parts delivered per issue. Who Is Jake Ellis? is definitely one of those minis that should help to launch creators to higher recognition within the comics community, and if it doesn’t I’d be pretty hard pressed to understand why. This is a comic in it’s rawest form, incredibly visceral and alive on the pages in a way that few comics manage to effectively encapsulate. Those choosing to wait for trade on this one are only hurting themselves, because the wait isn’t worth it. Get it now, and thank yourself later.
Final Verdict: 9.4 – Buy
