The Manhattan Projects #3
Written by: Jonathan Hickman
Art by: Nick Pitarra
Colours by: Jordie Bellaire
Published by: Image Comics
‘What God fears is the righteous’
This line, this single re-translation from Hebrew scripture, sets the tone of this comic! It is haunting, sinister and downright unnerving! When you read this issue (and trust me you WANT to read this issue) and get to that scene, the scene with this line, you will see that these men may be geniuses but there is always a man with another agenda!
Agenda’s are a huge theme in this issue, and Hickman subtly emphasises that whilst world building even further from the last issue! This issue is a thriller, a psychological thriller, it builds tension and drama without release until right on that last page and you sit there, reading Hickman’s dialogue, hands gripping the comic tightly and it takes you through the minds of men who are all gunning for their own ideals (including one previously established as a cannibal).
Pitarra has his work cut out for him in this issue as he’s tasked with drawing facial expressions, and subtle gestures, something his cartoonish style delivers on quite beautifully. Each scene has it’s own beat, measure and range of emotions whether it’s Truman’s conversation with the General or a schizophrenic Oppenheimer’s conversation within himself. These are all delivered and emphasised as needed by the veteran artist.
Finally, I have to mention Jordie Bellaire again -as her colours on this are pitch perfect! She knows about the dichotomy Hickman is looking for in flashback sequences or inside people’s minds and delivers stark contrasting colours to this effect. The bright use of reds also adds to the harrowing and sinister nature of what’s going on.
Manhattan Projects has just picked up it’s game and raised the stakes beyond what where I thought it was previously going to go, although this is a slower, less action packed issue, the contents of it is important, if not vital, to what I’m guessing Hickman is building towards. I can’t wait to see where the next issue goes.
Rating: 9/10
