Trista & Holt #15 Review

Tags

Andrez Bergen, Black Sails, comics, Disco Inferno novelisation, Film Noir, IF? Commix, Magpie, Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat, Trista & Holt #15, Trista & Holt #15 Review, Trista and Holt #15, Tristan and Iseult, Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?

Trista & Holt #15

Review by Paul Bowler

Heartache, despair, and sweet revenge await in Trista and Holt #15, following Trista’s shocking treatment at Black Sails sanatorium. But is their tragic love affair really over? Issy must now struggle back from the brink of despair, fending off suicidal thoughts and his inner demons, to return to Black Sails and save Trista. In this powerful and moving series finale, Trista and Holt seek to escape from their warring families forever, but can their love ever truly survive now after everything that‘s be done to tear their lives apart..?

Trista and Holt #15 brings Andrez Bergen’s (writer / artist of Tales to Admonish, Bullet Gal, and author of Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?) IF? Commix crime-riddled, pulp-noir, dada influenced take on the medieval story of Tristan and Iseult spruced up with modern digital sensibilities, hardboiled violence, passion, and disco, to a sensational conclusion. Following the success of his Bullet Gal series, Magpie, and with the Black Sails, Disco Inferno novelisation just released (which also retells the classic romance of Trista and Iseult in a 70’s style pulp/noir world), Andrez Bergen’s innovative storytelling and distinct artistic style ensures Trista and Holt #15 rounds off his latest IF? Commix series in fine style.

Right from the outset, Trista and Holt #15: In The End, plunges us deep into the shadowy, nightmarish abyss of Issy’s suicidal despair as we flashback six days to find him broken hearted, despondent, and resigned to ending his own life. Having discovered the truth about his father and Trista’s aunt Marcella, and after learning what happened to Trista at Black Sails sanatorium, Issy has spiralled into a twisted game of Russian Roulette in which his own emotional ruin will seemingly provides the ammunition Issy needs to end his pain.

Andrez Bergen sends us on a roller coaster ride of emotions as the narrative unfolds, with Izzy facing his darkest hours, before finally emerging from his frenzied stupor without a bullet in his brain and the epiphany that will ultimately drive him – quite literally – in his dad’s cherished Jaguar D-Type to reach Black Sails and rescue Trista from the fate engineered by those whose machinations have conspired to destroy them. The dark opening themes gradually melt away during the heartrending reunion in the gardens of Black Sails, it’s a beautiful yet tragic moment for our erstwhile lovers, punctuated with dreams, recollections and melancholy as birds circle in the overcast sky above, Trista and Holt will make one last ditch bid for freedom that’s every bit as ingeniously bitter-sweet as it is barbed with revenge for those that have wronged them.

Andrez Bergen’s art for Trista and Holt #15 is arguably some his finest work ever: from the stark despair of Issy’s dalliance with suicidal thoughts, through to the windswept journey to Black Sails relayed via a collage of striking imagery and surreal montages, the digital cut-ups and collages of dreams and fantasy splice seamlessly with the emotional resonance of Trista and Holt’s reunion, and the bold white infused splash pages that sear away the shadows provide a vivid contrast with the intoxicatingly sombre, yet exquisitely upbeat and sensual tone of this impressive double-sized issue as the series concludes in the most unexpected way imaginable.

This series finale certainly delivers on every level and rewards long-term readers in the most sublime way. Trista’s haunting dream is a visual tour de force of storytelling and art from Andrez Bergen, the characterization is beautifully handled in this issue, and you will almost feel like you have been drawn into every scene as this mesmerising saga approaches its end. As a cry of rage rings out in the bowels of Tintagel, the build up towards Trista and Holt’s final scenes are simply stunning, and accentuated with the merest splash of color to mark the occasion and make that parting moment all the more poignant. Trista and Holt has been one of Andrez Bergen’s most outstanding IF? Comic series’ so far, this final issue is superb, and Trista and Holt #15 is guaranteed to make you cry, smile, and take your breath away all at the same time…

Publisher: IF? Commix / Writer: Andrez Bergen / Art: Andrez Bergen

Trista & Holt #15 is available 1^st Jube 2016 / Hard Copy $5 & Digital $1

FIND OUT MORE FROM IF? COMMIX VIA THEIR WEBSITE

iffybizness.weebly.com

If you enjoyed Trista and Holt, then be sure to check out Andrez Bergen’s brand new Black Sails, Disco Inferno novelisation (with Renee Asher Pickup) based on his Trista and Holt  IF? Commix series. The paperback is available now via Amazon USA and Amazon UK and Amazon Canada, while the eBook can be picked up at Amazon USA, Amazon Australia, Amazon France, and Amazon Japan.

Follow @paul_bowler

Trista & Holt #14 Review

Tags

Andrez Bergen, comics, Film Noir, IF? Commix, Magpie, Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat, Trista & Holt, Trista & Holt #14, Trista & Holt #14 review, Tristan and Iseult, Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?

Trista and Holt #14

Review by Paul Bowler

April Fool’s Day is no joke in Trista and Holt #14, especially for Trista, as she’s been abducted by unknown criminal henchman and will soon discover the horrific secret of Black Sails – while Issy learns the truth about his father and Trista’s aunt Marcella. Meanwhile, the most clandestine proceedings unfold via the feline gaze and narration of Issy’s cat, Andred, in a sublime throwback to Japanese classic ‘I Am a Cat’ by Natsume Soseki.

Trista and Holt #14 is the penultimate issue of IF? Commix hardboiled, pulp noir, and dada inspired homage to the medieval story of Tristan and Iseult, spruced up with modern digital flourishes and infused with a crime-riddled blend of bullets, passion, and disco from Andrez Bengen, the writer / artist of Bullet Gal, Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat, Magpie, and the author of Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa? The Trista and Holt IF? Commix series has recently been licensed to Project Nerd Publishing in the U.S., and is soon to become a novel as well.

Following the ambush at the Amusement Park, Trista is being driven by Geoffrey’s men along a dusty side road to Carhaix, her thoughts turn to the mysterious Norwegian who was gunned down as she was captured and what she learned from him. Andrez Bergen gets right under the skin of all the characters in this issue, keeping the tension simmering right from the outset, as Trista is delivered to Black Sails, before the scene – and narrative – is transplanted to the viewpoint of Tintagel’s feline resident; Andred the cat.

Bergen’s ingenious drawing of inspiration from Natsume Soseki’s satirical novel ‘I Am a Cat’ is a sublime masterstroke here. Intercut with Trista’s journey with her new friends, Andred cat’s-eye view of the world explores the shady dealings of Marcella and Isidor Holt SR’s insidious plots and machinations, and uncovers who has taken care of Trista for them and the horrific fate to which she is shortly to be condemned to. Andred’s journey through the house also gives witness to untold treasures, an unexpected meal, and eventually solace with Issy who is glued to the ambling, meaningless, and often mundane preamble of the monkey box.

The art for Trista and Holt #14 features some of the most stylish use of imagery and digital montages that Andrez Bergen has utilized so far during this IF? Commix series’ run. The digital cut-ups and collages are somewhat less prominent this issue, instead we have softer, less cluttered layout, with bolder imagery and splash pages which feel far more in keeping with the brooding and more sombre tone of this issue. With a dizzying opening monologue that spools out along a dusty back road, the brooding menace of Tintagel, to a world seen though Andred’s feline gaze, and the chilling realization of what awaits Trista in Black Sails sanatorium collectively adds up to make this issue one of the undoubted highlights of the entire series.

Space: 1999 will have to wait, when a newsflash and a telephone call brings the issue to a frightening and heartrending cliff-hanger… Andrez Bergen has excelled himself with this issue, as he brings all the threads of the saga together via a series of game-changing events, which ultimately sets the stage for the final issue. Trista and Holt #14 is a stylish, nerve-jangling, and mesmerising issue that leaves the main characters of this IF? Commix series in an extremely grim place as this tale of love, tragedy, and betrayal approaches its final issue.

Publisher: IF? Commix / Writer: Andrez Bergen / Art: Andrez Bergen

Trista & Holt #13 is available 1^st March 2016 / Hard Copy $5 & Digital $1

FIND OUT MORE FROM IF? COMMIX VIA THEIR WEBSITE

iffybizness.weebly.com

Follow @paul_bowler

Black / White Review

Tags

Andrez Bergen, Black White, Dezz Rodriguez, Film Noir, IF? Commix, Matt Kyme

Black / White

Review by Paul Bowler

Black / White is the brand new anthology collection from the Australian author Andrez Bergen, writer of the detective noir inspired superhero novel Who Is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa? This anthology features artwork by Canadian artists Dezz Rodriguez (Erl Cuervo) and Michael Grills (Runnin’ With a Gun), American Nathan St John (Baya), with British artist Andrew Chiy and Argentinean Marcos Vergar, alongside Australians Andrez Bergen and Matt Kyme (That Bullet Proof Kid & Tales to Admonish).

Published by IF COMMIX, Bergen and Kyme takes an innovative stance with Black / White, balancing contrasting tones of storytelling and art (both black and white) in this new Aussie iNDie anthology which, together with its impressive collection of international artists, explores the subtleties and subtexts which exist between them both.

With a focus on noir, together with a dark blend of comic humour, Black / White serves up a bold and unflinching collection of stories tackling numerous themes: including crime, suicide, and a chilling post-apocalyptic nightmare in a dystopian future.

The first of the six tales in this anthology, Zig Zag, features a man, cleaning a gun, one that has survived for a 100 years. The narrative here is delivered by Bergen along the left hand side of the page, while the art by Rodriguez dominates the right of the page. The noir style monologue is hauntingly relayed; a symphony of darkness and despair, which together with the uncanny twist at the end gets Black / White off to a fine start.

Get Busy takes us to a bustling night in a bar, where barman Ziggy studies the comings and going of his patrons. While the tone of this story is somewhat lighter, Andrez Bergen provides with a host of interesting character, with some great art by Marcos Vergar, this story necks a triple shot of vodka and delivers a surprise find in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Lin Leum Actress by Michael Grills and Andrez Bergen introduces us to a seductive woman as she admires herself in the mirror. A man just sits and watches her, admiring her beauty. Breakfast, toast and a shot of tequila, later, the man’s vision begins to goes dark, and we slowly learn why this is the last thing he will ever see. I really enjoyed this story, tightly plotted and with intriguing characters, its one of the best in this collection.

The Writing on the Wall introduces another great female character by Bergen, a nomadic vigilante, who catches youths Marie and Jo-Jo daubing graffiti on a wall in a dark apocalyptic landscape. This stranger uses a clever play on words and bullets to meet out justice according to her design. The art by Nathan St John really encapsulates the dark and gritty tone of this story, with great visual flourishes, this story really stands out from the crowd.

Waiting for Sod All is the tale of married woman, she is ill, and it is breaking her heart to see her husband as he clings to the last vestiges of hope they once shared. The pain of her illness has become too great now, so the woman makes one final choice, in a heartrending move were her salvation is only phone call away. With story and art by Andrez Bergen, this is perhaps the darkest tale of all in this entire anthology. Bergen’s unflinching approach to the subject matter here is polarized within the vivid blend of shadows and white imagery, weaving a dark narrative through the deeply emotional impact of a love eroded in a sea of pain and tears.

Come Out Swinging by Andrez Bergen and Andrew Chiu is a short little story, where a man saves woman from her captor, which concluded with a snappy punch line. This single page rounds off the anthology and brings Black / White to a close.

Black / White is an excellent collection of stories, the distinct film noir and dark apocalyptic style filters through every page, creating a near perfect synergy with each story. The various artistic styles also complement each other very well, none of the stories outshines or clashes with those around it, and it is perhaps this element above all that makes Black / White such an enjoyable and eclectic collection of stories. Andrez Bergen has excelled himself with this issue, superb stories, a great team of artists, and a striking cover by Matt Kyme, ensures Black / White will have a lasting impression on your imagination and senses long after the final page has turned.

Black / White is published by If? Commix and is available for $5 print copy or as download here for $1.00

Follow @paul_bowler