Revolution 9 #1

Mark London... Never Boring And Leaves You Wanting More

One thing I gotta respect about Mark London is that he always sets out to do what he wants. Sometimes that comes with implications on how he runs Mad Cave. But as a creative, I can always compare him with Geoff Johns in making those turn off the brain style of stories. Because a clear mind is what engrosses readers the most. Revolution 9 is no different.

Revolution 9: A Familiar Story With Great Presentation

If I read you Revolution 9’s outline would you be impressed? A secret order of assassins trying to better the world turns out to not be upright. A traitor escapes and gets help to fight them. There are tropes named after this!

But does that mean it’s boring? Far from it! The entire issue is structured to give weight to every impression made. Every character has layers to them in their brief appearances to make them instantly memorable. And it gives a big sense of anticipation on what’s going to happen next.

Let Me Explain First Impressions

Like how the title character’s boss always stands upright dressed in white clothes contrasted against the lush background. As he goes to a pillar it looks like a monument on its low angle. As this Volta takes a candle out of the chest near the ground while his lieutenant talks to him, it looks like Volta’s vulnerable to a loyal follower questioning him. But the next panels show him doing his ritual with absolute focus as he explains his decisions. The only time Volta makes eye contact is to assure his lieutenant that he has some concern. Plus the flickering candle makes a good scene transition.

To the title heroine’s origin story starting in a deep dark place. The simple colors show just how vulnerable the younger Velveteen 9 was. It helps that an act meant for her and her sister’s defense got her colored for a life under Volta. When comparing her mugshot profile on the same page, the sad and vulnerable girl transitions into a hardened, bolder woman.

Only for the next page to show that Velvet is carrying a burden that feels bigger than all of the power that nurtured her. A memory of her boyfriend compared to all of the guns surrounding her.

The page after that shows just how much distance has grown between Velvet and Volta. Despite Volta giving her words of encouragement the way he stands over Velvet feels intimidating. In fact between the flashback of Volta and the present Velvet making eye contact, his words look off around her. Plus Velvet’s more focused on her boyfriend Cain’s memento.

Everything in these first pages alone hooks readers through a method method made famous by the late Darwyn Cooke. Show By Telling!

Anticipate The Anticipation

When the plot gets rolling things look pretty steady in one page. Only for the next page to get readers on the edge of their seats. Looking through the door’s peephole it almost looks like a gun’s barrel. By the time the gun is drawn, readers can feel like they were in a character’s shoes for the moment. Each one will feel different depending on the situation.

As for the action scenes, once they get going after a big dramatic shift, it feels like the stakes are set in an escape room. One that Velvet has to get out with reflexes and brilliant counter measures. Like shooting at a ceiling or detonating prepared explosives to take out goons. When the doors fly off, it feels like Velvet and her recruit are home free.

At least until characters get a little emotional when they have to things like run a former friend over or take the time to deal with these situations off panel.

Exposition For Relief

Finally exposition on just what is going on comes from a character trying to make sense of things. His laymen’s perspective really puts him back in reader’s shoes to try an figure out the bigger picture. Since a lot of it doesn’t make sense in real history, it allows readers to feel like they’re adjusting with somebody. Especially when Velvet fills in the blanks and explains what set her the series’ arc.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Mark London knows how to write simple but attractive stories but building a structure that doesn’t tell people to think too much. In fact, he and the artists he works with make it so eye-catching and get you in the right feeling for the situation, time never feels wasted.

I’ve seen London’s early works until now. Some of them were great, others…not so much. Yet those are the ones that got endings that didn’t feel premature! Something tells me that he’s got favorites. To be fair, running a business means maximizing potential with what gets you going, not trying to make everything move at your whim.

This project at least shows how much he improved as a writer and how well he can work with others to make the best product. Leaving readers wanting more.

9/10