This is the sequel to one of Boom!’s best series of 2014 and things are about to get interesting. There are spoilers ahead that will be discussing elements from the previous “Wild’s End” series.
Written by Dan Abnett
Illustrated by I.N.J. CulbardWhat’s to Love: The first Wild’s End miniseries kept us in constant suspense with its unlikely mash-up of War of the Worlds and The Wind in the Willows. We’re holding our collective breaths once again as author Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy) and illustrator I.N.J. Culbard (The King in Yellow) are set to play with the paranoia and “enemy amongst us” conspiracy theories prevalent in stories we love like Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The X-Files.
What It Is: As Clive, Susan, Fawkes, and the other survivors of the alien invasion of Lower Crowchurch try to cope with what just happened to their small town, the military arrives in an attempt to cover up the “incident.” Town residents are immediately detained, questioned, and treated with suspicion. Are they alien spies, collaborators, sympathizers? Clive and the rest will need to escape imprisonment if they’re to get the word out and warn the rest of the world in case the aliens return.
The nature of sequels in today’s world is not exactly well-received; many times, it feels like a cash grab or a retread of previously executed ideas. In the case of “Wild’s End”, there was a logical ending that left the door open for future stories to be told. Granted, this is not a sequel in the direct sense; I would call it more of a continuation from the original series. “Wild’s End: The Enemy Within” is not new reader friendly from the onset. While it certainly advances the story, it is assumed you have read the previous volume. The summation of the last volume does happen, but without any context a new reader might be lost. As well, the characters have their personalities fully fleshed out so it might be jarring to seem them here. The nuance is missed along with finer story details that add to the experience. Wisely though, the start of this story separates it from the main series, with only a few loose threads to bring to together. The citizens of Lower Crowchurch have been invaded by mysterious beings from space. While they were able to get away and defeat them, their journey has only just begun.
Taking place sometime after the events of “Wild’s End”, the reader is given a glimpse into Clive Slipaway’s time in the Royal Navy. It is merely a dream (or nightmare?), but it shows why Clive is weary of fighting in another war. Upon waking it becomes clear that Clive is not alone, nor has he been able to return home. The others, Fakwes, Susan and Alph, are living with Clive inside of home that is essentially a prison for them. The military has arrived in Lower Crowchurch and are firmly in charge of the proceedings now. Meanwhile on a train coming to town, there are two writers discussing a conference they are attending. One of these men is Lewis Cornfelt, Susan’s much despised ex-husband. The other man is Herbert Runciman, regarded as one of the most respected science fiction writers in the field. The two discuss their credentials before leaving the train to a surprise visit from the military. Since they are “experts,” the military would like to consult them about the aliens that were discovered upon their arrival.
Dan Abnett gives an excellent setup by not going into too much detail about Clive and crew early. After Clive awakens, there is no clear indication of what happened to him at this point. It is only later the reader discovers his actual whereabouts. It is a like bit of trickery, but it also gives Abnett a chance to tell the story of Cornfelt and the military. The fun of this is that Cornfelt is lampooned in “Wild’s End” to create lofty expectations for his arrival. Abnett has fun with this too, making Cornfelt a cocker spaniel and his ex-wife Susan a cat; that was an excellent belly laugh that I got from that characterization. Another excellent moment comes from Cornfelt’s reaction to the aliens and how he “predicted” their arrival. Considering the major action at the end of the last series, this was a much needed moment of levity to bring some fun to the book.
Continued belowTo add to this, I.N.J. Culbard creates an enchanting if somewhat quaint world for these events to happen. Lower Crowchurch is a small village with an old look which Culbard renders perfectly. The cars look accurate in their depiction and the cottages look right out of a child’s book. Each character’s unique looks are like looking through a pet store window, each more adorable than the last. Additionally, the vastness of the landscape gives a sense of claustrophobia when the military is shown in town. I mentioned the prison analogy above, and Culbard makes that apt in how tight all the panels are used within the military fences. The tight quarters allow for fine facial details to shine through, giving a human feel to each of these animals. As a long time dog owner, this was something I picked up on right away since every animal has personality.
Another fun element I enjoyed about this story is the homage to H.G. Wells. If that wasn’t clear before in “Wild’s End,” it is now for “Wild’s End: The Enemy Within.” The aliens have that Wells-ian feel both in design and how they dispatch their enemies. The aliens themselves are not as fully featured this time around which is a let down. In a close up under an army tent, the finer details are shown about these invaders. Culbard doesn’t show a lot, just a leg from an odd angle that gives off the implied size of the creature. If you recall the radio version of “War of The Worlds”, Orson Wells describes the aliens in great detail since the listener isn’t there. This approach gives the reader a chance to imagine what these characters are dealing with.
Abnett & Culbard have done their homework or at least have read “War of the Worlds” a few times. If you have a familiarity with that story, a lot of “Wild’s End: The Enemy Within” will evoke it. The aftermath is what the characters are dealing with, and even the military is unsure how to handle them. The paranoia that comes from that, as Clive mentions, is how to contain an invisible threat. The looming sense of danger for another attack is something I wanted for with baited breath.
“Wild’s End: The Enemy Within” is not without a few faults; for those who have read the previous volume, throwing us in the middle of the aftermath isn’t all that thrilling. I wanted to see how we got to that point and what was said in between. There might be more flashbacks if this is any indication but it might be too late. These are minor quibbles for sure, and it does keep this issue from being perfect.
I had a sense of childhood wonder while reading; it brought be back to my grandfather playing old time radio during dinner. The imagination shown by Abnett & Culbard is exactly why this book succeeds. There is a fun look and a serious tone that have excellent balance between them. I am not sure if this is classified as all-ages, but I am sure that it could be. This is why I read comics: for something that has a little bit of everything for everyone. Even if the idea isn’t original, or if it is a sequel, the execution is what matters the most.
Final Verdict: 8.4 – An excellent follow up to “Wild’s End” with an intriguing continuation. While late in the game, this is an early contender for mini-series of the year. Highly recommended.
