Trista & Holt #15 Review

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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

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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.

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Trista & Holt #14 Review

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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

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Trista & Holt #12 Review

Tags

Andrez Bergen, Bullet Gal, IF? Commix, Magpie #1, Small Change, Trista & Holt, Trista & Holt #12, Trista and Holt, Tristan and Iseult, Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?

Trista & Holt #12

Review by Paul Bowler

Hot on the heels of the widely acclaimed Bullet Gal prequel series from IF? Commix and the imminent debut of MAGPIE, the newest release from IF? Commix is Trista & Holt #12, a hardboiled crime saga that mixes a wild disco-infused narrative with the old school medieval legend of Tristan and Iseult. Featuring story and art by Andrez Bergen, author of the superhero noir-detective novel Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa? , the graphic novel Tobacco Stained Mountain Goat, and new novel, Small Change, Bergen’s distinct vision continues to break new ground in Trista & Holt #12 as this modern homage of Trista and Holt’s crime-riddled pulp noir world spins a trippy mix of passion, violence, and intrigue.

Andrez Bergen’s Trista and Holt series is a heady blend of action, compelling characters, and stark noir-inspired atmosphere, one that provides an intoxicating throwback to the pulp legacy of yesteryear and splices it with modern sensibilities. Romance is in the air in Trista and Holt #12, and things are certainly hotting up for our erstwhile lovers, but the mood is soon tarnished when Trista learns about the Governal’s murder. There will be wedding bells to counterbalance the abundance of funerals that have rocked their world, but will that be enough, and we are left wondering if these nuptials are for the right people at the right time.

Trista and Holt #12 features some of the most striking art and imagery that Andrez Bergen has used on this IF? Commix series to date. The unique fusion of art, photos, digital imagery, and dada-inspired collage cut-ups which Bergen employs here is every bit as mesmerising and eye-catching as we’ve come to expect from his work. This issue really sees Bergen elevate the visuals in Trista and Holt to whole new level of sublime ingenuity. From the beautiful close up of an unblinking eye that mixes grief, retribution, and revenge, the smoky, often dream-like quality of the narrative unfolds translucently with the eventual wedding itself, and there is a brooding, almost sensual air of dread which builds to an absolute killer of an ending.

So, as Issy endures another death in his family and Trista mourns her mentor – they still find solace together – while Brangien encounters an unexpected twist of fate… Trista and Holt #12 is another fantastic issue in this IF? Commix series from Andrez Bergen. This outstanding pulp-noir saga effortlessly combines its moody visuals with the legacy of Tristan and Iseult, spattering the crime-ridden brutality with raw emotion to a punchy disco beat that will hone the senses and fire the imagination like nothing you’ve experienced before.

Trista & Holt #12 is available 1^st February 2016 / Hard Copy $5 & Digital $1

FIND OUT MORE FROM IF? COMMIX VIA THEIR WEBSITE

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Publisher: IF Commix

Writer: Andrez Bergen

Artist: Andrez Bergen

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