 |
| The Harbinger #1 Cover C by Cris Delara |
Last month, the good folks at Valiant Comics generously shared with us an additional set of preview pages for their upcoming book, The Harbinger #1, which is now available in stores. On the second page of that extended preview, penciler & inker Robbi Rodriguez portrays Peter Stanchek, and his world, in strikingly different terms from previous Harbinger series artists.
Consider this panel from the second page of the extended preview. The way Robbi draws Peter's face, with his cheeks gracefully swooping down to a pointed chin, imbues Peter with an elfin appearance. The lack of wrinkles, or any visible sign of aging (let alone the traumas he's endured in his troubled life) enhance this. He looks so young and innocent, reinforcing the writers' theme of rebirth.
What strikes me particularly about the scene is that his skin is so coated in dirt. The Harbinger Foundation flag with which he's clothed himself is soiled. Surrounding the areas of solid inking, which Robbi uses for Peter's shadow, notice how Robbi has crosshatched and stippled the ground to show that it, too, is dirty.
Peter Stanchek inhabits a very lived-in world.
Once Peter summons his power, his face transforms. Gone is the softness and innocence. All is hard and straight stress lines. His face almost takes on an alien appearance.
More straight lines show the psiot power shoot up through Peter's body and out his head. He is like a fountain of energy. He burns like a Roman Candle.
In this last panel, Robbi inked in most of the cockpit interior to simulate night. The helicopter pilot, who sees Peter summoning his psiot power, extends his jaw wide, reminiscent of a snake unhinging his jaw, as he yells a command to his fellow pilots. The mostly straight lines of his uniform, and geometric shape of his goggles, are suggestive an insect.
Well, the pilots are attacking him, just like snakes slithering toward Peter in his own Garden of Eden. Yet compared to Peter, they are like insects in terms of the power they can wield.
Once again, great work on The Harbinger #1, Robbi Rodriguez. Most impressive!
Dragon Dave
P.S. To read all seven pages of the extended preview, click the link below:
No comments:
Post a Comment