Waterloo Sunset

(Image, 2004-2005)
™ and © 2004 Andrew Stephenson & Trevor Goring

Science-fiction might be a misnomer, since writer Andrew Stephenson and artist Trevor Goring’s premise is that technology has ceased to work in England for uncertain reasons that have also sealed the island nation off from the rest of the world. Still, the arrival of an outsider in a giant spaceship proves the genre, and she’s lucky to be discovered by Esau the Hunter, probably the only person in England more likely to be her benefactor than her end. Waterloo Sunset’s spry narrative is especially impressive in that the book contains not one, but two evolutions of speech, keeping both esoteric in sound, yet clear in meaning. Fantastic Four readers can only hope Marvel is crafty enough to swipe Goring from Image, as the strange critters, technology, and otherworldly mystery snap perfectly into place with Reed Richards look-alike Esau. The use of charcoal is a nice decision, and fitting for a culture shot back to the Victorian era. No doubt readers will be reminded of Stephen King’s Dark Tower, though the book has plenty of its own innovations to keep it notable, such as pixelations on the peripheral edge of a first–person flashback.

— Brendan McGinley

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