SNAPSHOT 1
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Jock
Publisher: Image
Reviewer: Rob Patey (aka Optimous Douche)
Here’s a lesson for you kids. Become a comic reviewer and completely fuck up the attribution of one of the most heralded names in comic history. Seriously my review of Batman 13 was the equivalent of walking into Leonardo da Vinci’s studio and asking him how much the cheese costs?
The creator in question is Jock and my review did not give the proper credit for what I thought to be the best part of the book. The end of BATMAN 13 felt like eye rape, Harley Quinn portrayed a level of profound sadness we’ve never seen before – and of course Jock was instrumental in that moment. Mea Culpas off. However, if you do ever offend to such a level, I only wish you the same fortuitous penance I’m about to share with you.
It’s a rare occasion we get our hands on an Indie Book by two already established creators, but SNAPSHOT is seriously underground at this point. A clandestine placement in Judge Dredd magazine and a possible release date from Image are all that exist of SNAPSHOT right now. Although by the time this hits true publication I think more deets will be available, by then everyone will have shuffled off their NYCC True Blood hangovers.
So what is SNAPSHOT. Well, as we say on the Spoiler Alert podcast…it’s so so so so so good (yeah we’re a clever lot – that actually replaced jizztastic). SNAPSHOT takes the Hollywood concept of a murder being caught on camera and modernizes it better than the reinvention of Betty White.
It all starts with a cell phone being picked up off the ground. Right from the start Jock shows his skill for interesting and cinematic POVs for the panels and Diggle’s aptitude for never stuffing a word balloon is welcomingly real and allows the art to breathe the story along. This book is B&W, but with the way Jock gleefully plays with shading you’ll be thankful they skipped a colorist.
Our teenage protagonist takes the phone to his day job, which is at the comic shop Near-Mint Rhino (so which one of you is it that frequents Vegas – hmmm). The conversation that ensues will ring like a “This is Your Life” for all the married fanmen out there who were able to sneak away for a trip to the LCS only to find a Holiday bumped the delivery date (hate that shit).
Then the sublime then turns into the fantastic after we find this phone is packing pictures of a corpse.Keeping the surprises coming just when you think this is going to be a standard hunt and chase of murderer to witness, the guys pull the rug out. Just when you think this is the simple case of a Doppelganger, there goes that rug again, and just when you think you think you have the payers figured out – you don’t. Oh and don’t get too attached to anyone.
There’re about ten mysteries in this first issue, but I never once felt lost. Also Diggle and Jock move this whole thing without one narration bubble, in case you don’t know, that’s the sign of a writer and artist that spoon perfectly. Buy this book when whoever publishes it at the time they will or will not publish it. Or just go buy back issues of Judge Dredd I guess.
P.S. This book would be worth picking up just for the one panel of the spiral staircase. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.
Rob Patey & Friends 