Santeria: The Goddess Kiss #2 (of 5)
Creator & Writer: David Wohl
Penciler: Guiseppe Cafaro
Colorist: Wes Hartman
Letterer: Josh Reed
Publisher: Aspen Comics
On Sale: April 20, 2016
Price: $3.99
Format: FC
Pages: 32
The first brand new Aspen series to debut in 2016 continues! From the creator of Executive Assistant: Iris, Legend of the Shadow Clan and Witchblade, and the artist of Fathom: Kiani comes a new tale spanning centuries, deep within the heart of the ancient civilizations of Africa…
Meanwhile, Naomi discovers her ability to rescue those in need may be far more transcendent-and deadly-than she originally thought. And the consequences might spell a danger that could not only end her life-but those of everyone, everywhere!
Santeria: The Goddess Kiss is different. It is not a superhero book. It doesn’t have scantily armored females battling the bad guys (or even scantily armored female bad guys for that matter). What Santeria: The Goddess Kiss does have is a story, created by David Wohl, set in a gritty realistic cityscape. Characters with realistic lives, with a twist… a mystical “gift” from a Santeria Goddess coming into the mix. Is this a “gift” a power for good or evil? Are the people that are pulling some strings behind the scenes trying to cleanse the world of evil? Punish it for it’s evil? Or perhaps they are the evil? With the first two issues, David Wohl is laying the groundwork for something to come. What that “something” may be, well we need to keep reading the series to discover that and am sure that David will give us an interesting story as we discover what is to come.
It may seem like there is a lot of groundwork being told in the first few pages of both the first two issues, but is is designed to set the foundation for events that take place in the story and to help understand why things are happening. Often this type of lead in could leave a reader lost or confused as to when events are occurring in the story, however Josh Reed’s lettering does an excellent job of helping keep the reader oriented so that there is no such confusion as the reader transitions from past to present in the story.
Between Giuseppe Cafaro’s art and Wes Hartman’s muted colors, the art perfectly matches the tone of the story. It is gritty, the colors muted so that when you have a scene with headlights the reader can easily tell they are on. Or when mystical energy is expended the contrast, though not jarring is clear that something big happened just by the contrast.
Though I have always enjoyed books from Aspen Comics, it’s been awhile since there has been one that I would consider reviewing. Not for any defect in the books, simply from the preference for books that have a bit more to them. It is nice to see that Aspen is bringing out some books that deliver in this area. Visual eye candy is fun, but there is only so much you can say about that. (Note: I have no issues with visual eye candy I simply enjoy stories with more a bit more).
A book that intrigues me. That makes me want to know more. A book that makes me look forward to seeing where the story will go, that is what will get my attention. Santeria: The Goddess Kiss is definitely hitting those marks for me. If you enjoy a well written story, with art that matches the tone of the story, with some basis in reality, while still taking you outside what most of us would consider normal, then this is a book you should definitely check out.
