Hayden Mears reviews Incursion #3…
Written and plotted by Alex Paknadel and Andy Diggle and drawn by Doug Braithwaite, Incursion is an event book promising lasting consequences for the entire Valiant universe. The penultimate issue in what’s already shaping up to be a relentlessly entertaining event series, this installment ratchets up the action in unexpected but uniquely pleasing ways. Put simply: Incursion#3 wastes no time and pulls no punches. Paknadel, Diggle, and Braithwaite are a dream team further bolstered by their love of stories and their commitment to telling good ones.
The series follows Gilad the Eternal Warrior who, over the course of many years and lives, fights to protect his charge, Earth’s geomancer. When the newest incarnation of this powerful being, the young girl Tama, falls victim to a rot brought to earth by alien conqueror Imperatrix Virago and the conflicted Syntilla, Gilad travels to the Deadside to save the world. Pretty sweet stuff.
Paknadel’s script emphasizes the insidiousness of rot and the patience of ruin without prioritizing plot over character. The book excels at working in conflicts and obstacles that push the boundaries of what each character can do. Everything from Paknadel’s writing to Braithwaite’s gorgeous renderings of human emotion always circles back to the way the characters respond to these problems. It’s every bit the character-driven story we’d hope to get from a highly-anticipated event book. The larger ramifications of Virago’s invasion are definitely shown and felt (at least in the opening scene), but for the most part, the story’s gaze stays trained on Gilad and Tama. It’s a wise move, and it’s sublimely executed.
What’s beautiful about this book in particular is that you don’t have to be a Valiant fanatic to understand what’s happening. Sure, it helps to have context. But Paknadel makes this an easily digested entry point into the Valiant universe. Some would argue that starting with an event book is silly. That it sucks it dry of any enjoyment you might’ve had reading it. I respectfully disagree. It doesn’t really matter where you start. As long as you’re picking up on what the creative team is putting down, go nuts. Besides, fun and accessibility seem to be paramount to Paknadel anyway, and the book absolutely reflects that.
As for Braithwaite’s art, what can really be said that won’t come across as superfluous? His style, coupled with his knack for capturing the nuances of human expression, make him one of the best in the business. A scene in the issue’s final pages showcases it all perfectly: a bloodied Gilad triumphantly stumbles away from a fight, determination and strength etched into every line on his scarred face. Braithwaite is a gift to the industry and comics are better off because of him.
From its “oh, shit!” opening to its stunning final panel, Incursion offers a fast-paced, action-packed story that is as emotionally resonant as it is gorgeous to behold. It’s the kind of no-nonsense, no-holds-barred event book the comic world needs. Valiant is churning out earnest storytelling, and this book is further proof that this publisher is one deserving of more love and attention than it already receives.
Read our interview with Alex Paknadel if you want more on Incursion.
Hayden Mears
