REVIEW: ‘Coda,’ Issue #8

The eighth issue of Coda comes from the talented folks out of BOOM! Studios featuring creative team writer Simon Spurrier, illustrator Matías Bergara, colorist Michael Doig, and letterer Jim Campbell. The tale is mainly narrated by Serka, the missus, but the main focus is on her husband, Hum, a man with little to say but much to write and think about. While the narration may be about Hum, the visual part of the tale involves Serka on a personal quest. Along the way, Serka’s assessment of her other half’s quiet and dull nature, along with the marriage itself, is sorely tested.

I, for one, am a great believer that you don’t need to read a comic book from issue one to be informed and to enjoy it. Grab one that appeals to you, open and read. Then, later on, feel free to search out the back catalog to deepen your understanding. I have wanted to invest in books by BOOM! Studios for a whole but unfortunately had yet to do so. Coda is my first of theirs for me to read and did not disappoint. As someone who tired of fantasy long ago, this story revivified the bandaged mummy of apathy in my brain crypt groaning over the state of Middle Earth imitators in abundance.

Coda offers a dynamic, action-filled story that is not afraid to pan out to showcase vicious action pages of gore scope reminiscent of Ben Hur before zooming in on personal matters namely, the wedge in a marriage. Granted, Serka has big issues I won’t divulge here and Hum’s attempt to help is very much a manly way of behaving but that makes this faraway comic hit close to home. Spurrier delivers in taking outré, otherworldy trappings and offering a modern, humane dialogue that can speak to anyone, with polished art to boot.

Speaking of art, allow me to gush. Bergara, Doig, and Campbell did a splendid job. From action sequences to small headshots, the book was perfect. I love the way the pages narrating Hum’s tale are muted in color, almost monochromatic, only to blow wide open into the pastel splendor in scenes involving Serka. When they come together, these two color schemes seem to meld together into a cohesive unit. I loved every brush stroke, line, thought caption, and word balloon.

A great melding of plotting, pacing and knowing when to let the art shine big and when to tell the tale. Comic books are not for kids only and are just as much eyeball feasts as they are food for thought. This is great work by a fine ensemble of comic book folk. It is not average D&D fantasy or even average comics. It’s well worth it. 

Coda #8 is out in comic book stores everywhere and online retailers.