The Good
Justin Jordan may not be giving us the most insightful look at the two leads or the bigger picture just yet, but that's not stopping him from creating an incredibly entertaining story. New titles tend to have an attention-grabbing opening and then slow down for a bit to do some worldbuilding and character-driven beats, but Jordan's racing ahead. I mean, you can even use the saying literally here because there's a brief albeit cool scene involving speeding cars. Anyway, I still barely know our two characters, Harrow and Branch, and I still can only speculate about what the moon alien is doing, but Jordan's script still has me hooked. The dynamic between Harrow and Branch is extremely amusing. Both are witty, but not to the point where they seem like they should have gone into comedy, and both are just different enough to offer different perspectives on the crazy situations. They're both likable in their own way. There's some strong sci-fi and horror elements in this one, but the dialogue between these two made me laugh at least twice. It's a nice blend of comedy; it's just enough to make you smile without taking away from the darker story elements. I don't know these characters all that well, yet I still want to read more of them. That just goes to show how much I've been enjoying Jordan's handling of the conversations and pacing.
Ariela Kristantina (artist) and Ben Wilsonham (colorist) produced some very cool pages for this chapter. Their artwork fits the horror elements and the hectic nature of the story very well. Right on the second page we get an amazing and striking set of panels (which gives the colorist a chance to impress) and the rougher style really works when the tension begins to build -- and that's happening pretty much the entire time. They successfully create a more gripping atmosphere and it allows you to fully understand just how dire and intense the situation has become. Sure, backgrounds tend to vanish (something that does stand out), but it's still a solid visual ride and does a great job capturing the tone Jordan's trying to create. Plus, they did an exceptional job handling the chapter's most intense scene (it's loaded with energy) and the angles used in the follow-up were excellent. I hope the potential TV show is just as creative with its shots.
The Bad
I'm loving how fast-paced this story is, but we're three issues in and I don't feel a particularly strong connection to the two leads or the bigger picture just yet. The cliffhanger seems to imply we'll get some big answers and some huge plot progression in the next issue, but for now, it feels like the series hit the ground running and hasn't slowed down for even a few moments to give us anything especially substantial. Now, that sure as hell beats weighing the book down with exposition and info dumps, but a little more focus on character and stronger hints about the bigger picture would be cool. As of right now, it's seeming like this first story arc may be a better experience in a trade.
The Verdict
Justin Jordan has this ability to take a gazillion familiar elements and turn them into a story that feels unique, exciting, and totally fun (e.g. SPREAD, DEAD BODY ROAD, LUTHER STRODE). You can go on and on about what DEEP STATE reminds you of, but it's being handled in a way that prevents you from thinking about that while you're reading it. He's able to create interesting characters and stories and DEEP STATE is no exception, so now it's just a matter of seeing when he'll offer a really good amount of insight into this plot and the two leads. In the meantime, it's clear he has no problem making sure the series is full of thrills and even the occasional laugh. Throw in visuals that really sell the horror and sci-fi elements and you've got yet another non-superhero book that's absolutely worth reading.
