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Top Cow Productions (Image Comics)
Written by: Amit Chauhan
Art by: Eli Powell
Color by: Andrew Elder
Lettering by: Troy Peteri
Cover by: Linda Sejic
“Cities are built by the dreams of man and fall due to the fears of a populace.”
The Thirteen Artifacts are thirteen ancient, mystical items or entities that guide the fate of the universe. Bringing them all together is thought to bring death and destruction to mankind. Playing off the Top Cow series Artifacts, Chauhan offers readers his interpretation of the mysterious, unknown thirteenth artifact and its bearer. After an astronaut crash-lands on a strange planet, she soon discovers that the air and water are toxic and ventures inland. What she comes across is straight out of a nightmare: an army of devils patrolling the streets and policing enslaved people. Powell’s depiction of the overrun, smoky, dark, and dingy streets are creepy and disturbing—everything you need to equate the sense of fear that the main character is experiencing. The image of the skull—a symbol of the thirteenth artifacts—plastered in what looks like a town square immediately sets up the totalitarian, Big Brother–esque world the astronaut is now in. Andrew Elder’s muted coloring is spot-on throughout, adding the perfect balance to each scene. His use of reds and oranges help to symbolize the poisonous atmosphere the inhabitants are experiencing, reminding me a bit of Total Recall. Troy Peteri’s lettering (of the astronaut’s internal commentary, the devils’ dialogue, and so on) really ties all the elements together nicely.
To be honest, Linda Sejic’s cover is what drew me to this comic, being initially oblivious to the Talent Hunt competition and the thirteen artifacts. The appealing linework—with its thick, broad brushstrokes—make for a smooth, almost milky finish. The look on the astronaut’s face is mix of worry, surprise, and curiosity. From the reflection in her helmet, we can see she is looking upon a cityscape, which is a nice touch on Sejic’s part. Her use of reds and oranges perfectly parallels Elder’s color palette in the interior, setting up the reader’s expectation at the onset. We know from the cover she’s in for a dangerous ride.
Amit Chauhan and Eli Powell’s The 13th Artifact is creative and captivating. They truly deserve to be the 2015 Talent Hunt winners. I only wish we could get another issue! As they start their professional careers in the comic book field, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for them in the future.