Soulfire Vol.2 #9
Story: J.T. Krul | Pencils: Marcus To | Inks: Richard Zajac | Colors: Beth Sotelo | Letters: Josh Reed | Editor: Vince Hernandez | Cover Art: Marcus To, Mark Roslan, Beth Sotelo (Cover A), Joseph Michael Linsner (Cover B) | Publisher: MLT
What Is It About?
Volume Two comes to a conclusion with this issue as ’s plans are played out and Malikai makes the decision that he will no longer hold back. The results of Malikai’s decisions may change the course of everything has planned, or it may work in his favor.
Thoughts?
Soulfire Vol.2 has probably been the series in all of the Soulfire series of titles that had me really wondering what would happen when we got to the end of the story. You always have an idea of where a story is going. You see things in the issues as you read them and you make mental notes about what’s happening and who’s involved in the events. When you get to the end of the story and you are prepared in a hypothetical sense, but the actual fruition of what you’ve seen coming some times doesn’t quiet have the same effect as you think it will. This issue had that for me, but in a good sense. I felt that we’d get to the point where Malikai would not lose control, but lash out in his frustrations and his need to survive. We get that, but the actions he takes after he escapes from Cole’s grasp, who is trying to siphon Mal’s powers away, I didn’t expect and has me wondering – what’s next?
J.T. Krul has taken on an extremely important role at that I’m not entirely sure he realized he would when he started writing Fathom and Soulfire. I’m sure he realized he would be carrying out the stories and working with the characters that Michael Turner created and set forth on their paths, but did Krul know that he would not only carry them forward, but make amazing comics that I’m sure Turner would be extremely proud of reading. The ending of this issue, and this current volume, finds Mal in a troubling spot and you can feel his struggle with a minimal amount of dialogue and shows that Krul doesn’t overwrite to force the reader to see the struggle Mal is in, but allows the reader time to digest all that’s happened in the issue and then ask the same question Mal asks of himself as the issue ends. That kind of writing is what brings me back to a series time and time again.
I will admit, while the writing is very strong in this series, the artwork by Marcus To, Richard Zajac, Beth Sotelo, and Josh Reed has been phenomenal for the entire volume. I think To is bringing his A-game to this series and then notching it up to another level. The entire team shines on each page, but the widescreen pages with the layering of panels are some really great pieces of work on all artistic levels. Beth Sotelo is probably one of the best colorists in the industry without a doubt.
While it does sadden me to see this current volume end, I think it ended on a really strong note and I am looking forward to what is to come in the future with J.T. Krul returning to pen the series and newcomer Jay Fabok on pencils. If you haven’t been reading this volume, I highly recommend going back and picking up these issues!