From Stephen Coughlin and SLG Publishing.
For those of you just joining us, Sanctuary is about an experimental animal sanctuary. Science is used to allow the animals and humans to communicate… when necessary. Both sides have numerous secrets and characters are dying left and right in order to cover up this larger mystery.
Issues 1 through 4 were previously reviewed on the blog.
http://teamhellions.com/2012/05/07/sanctuary-1-4-review-from-stephen-coughlin-and-slg/
Issue 5 comes from a direct download at ComiXology. For only 99 cents an issue you too can read Sanctuary and fall in love with the title just as I have. 99 cents an issue! Besides some quarter or dollar bins where else are you going to find such a deal? You’re not. Head over to ComiXology or SLG’s page and support the independent creators.
Back to issue 5.
The giraffes are plotting. The gorillas are scared. The cats are trying to be strong and lead despite overwhelming obstacles. The spiders are still terrifying. The humans are beyond any one word. The squirrels are exploding.
I’m not sure if Stephen Coughlin is a vegetarian or an animal rights activist (and I would love to have him on the podcast or do some sort of instant message interview about this and other topics) but there is a message within this title. The only debate is whether this was a conscious decision or not.
For anyone who has ever heard or read of a serial killer one of the facts that always comes out is that the killer started out killing animals. From cats and dogs… to pandas and giraffes. When the scientists start to turn, manipulate and hurt each other it makes sense after their previous actions. As funny as it is to see these squirrels blow up (and really its so damn well written and hysterical) it is also horrifying. If a person can kill an animal without any hesitation or remorse, then that next step of killing another human becomes that much closer.
Coughlin is also handling all the art chores, with Jordan Fong on colors and Jef Bambas on letters. Thanks to these other two creators, Stephen’s characters stand out. Each character looks different. No gorilla, giraffe, cat or squirrel looks like another one. Nor do the humans look alike. Which is a rare thing in comic books when 99% of every man and woman has the same body build. The only animals that look the same are the spiders, which adds to the fear of legion.
Sanctuary has become an ongoing series and this current arc is extended. I’ll be sending my 99 cents in with each issue.
HELLIONS TEAM 