Lytton #4 from Cutaway Comics continues the long and winding road for these spin-off characters from Dr. Who, the cult British SciFi TV series.
A Mr. Seaton has hired Lytton, an intergalactic freelance soldier, to find The Positron, an artifact. And now, Lytton and his companions are being followed through an underground maze of tunnels by dangerous androids.
Writer Eric Saward keeps us treading softly, and artist Barry Renshaw illustrates how that could look. And there are some really interesting moments, some confrontations, and deliberations that show the potential of the plot of this mini-series. But somehow, and for some reason, this fourth and final issue failed to elicit any real “wow” feelings in me.
Saward’s story seems slow and ponderous. There is plenty of action and some narrow escapes, but there is a claustrophobic feeling that stands in the way of our enjoyment. Panel after panel of people walking in silence. These are wasted moments. More editing is needed to tighten things up.
While artist Barry Renshaw delivers a serviceable level of art, his choice of vantage points for the action are baffling and distracting. There is no reason to show us a 90 degree tilted view of characters walking through a doorway; there is no logic to going to a drone’s eye view in the very next panel. And so on. Instead, we want to see these characters in medium shots and closeups, from a consistent viewpoint. We want to be excited and engulfed.
But it’s a tidy tie-up of the current arc, and a pause in the proceedings until the story continues with The Return of the Terileptils!
If you purchase the hard copy online directly from Cutaway Comics, ( https://www.cutawaycomics.co.uk/order ) you also receive a bonus DVD with additional video and audio goodies!
• New audio commentary for THE VISITATION with MATTHEW WATERHOUSE (Adric) and ERIC SAWARD (writer/script editor), moderated by the BFI’s JUSTIN JOHNSON
• Commentary on Lytton #4 with BARRY RENSHAW (artist) and ERIC SAWARD (writer)
• Newly filmed interview with ERIC SAWARD, hosted by MATT CHARLTON
• Trailer for PARADISE TOWERS
• And an Easter Egg!
Cutaway Comics, Lytton #4, approx US $7 plus shipping for 30 pages of comic content plus DVD, see above
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