The Last Broadcast #5
Archaia
Words: Andre Sirangelo
Pictures: Gabriel Iumazark

When I read this issue of The Last Broadcast, I got the vaguest impression of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere.  Now, before you get your Neil Gaiman shorts in a bundle, hold on a minute. 

I really dig Neverwhere.  A lot.  And it’s been a while since I’ve read it.  When I read Neverwhere, it left me with a sense of wonder, and longing for a magic that just might be real.  It was gritty yet cool.  And I really dig the underground setting.  It’s those impressions that came floating up from the back of my mind when I read this issue.  The same sense that there is a hidden undergroun where magic might actually exist.  I’m not saying they are the same stories by any means, just that when I read The Last Broadcast, I got a similar vibe that reminded me of the Neverwhere vibe.

But back to what’s happening in this issue: the Ivan/Damon/Harumi triangle is fun to watch as it spins towards what can’t be a smooth landing.  Ivan and his stage partner Alex come have a bit of a reconciliation and Niko gets a bit too close to potential answers.  Codes are broken, wine is drunk, and the angst is high.  Oh, and let’s not forget the ever present Big Brother group, the SPI.  Or the big surprise Ivan gets at the end. There’s a lot going on here and it’s all pretty good. 

Andre Sigrangelo is weaving an urban mystery with hints of magic and plenty of conspiracy.  Gabriel Iumazark is painting a washed out, dream like setting that’s a bit rough around the edges.  It just feels right with this story.  Like I said, the mood of this book is just plain cool.  And the cover may be my favorite this month.  It’s hard to beat creepy hooded guy.

4 out of 5 Rabbits in a Top Hat