Written by: Antony Johnston
Art by: Justin Greenwood
Publisher: Image
The tension has been building and this final issue of the arc ends in classic cop thriller/action movie fashion – with a hostage situation and copious amounts of snipers.
Finally realising who is responsible for the series of murders, Klem finds herself facing down the barrel of a gun held by a person bent on revenge for a years old crime against their family. With an ending that ties up many threads (but also seeds one or two new ones for the next arc) this police procedural, sci-fi mix is a masterful lesson in how to weave a superb ‘whodunnit’ in a rather unique setting. Writer Antony Johnston has delivered a detective story that incorporates politicial elements and familial intrigue that would satiate the appetite of the most hardened Chandler fan.
With a slow-burning pace to the series, each issue of this first arc has seen Johnston ratchet up the suspense, ably supported by the visuals supplied by artist Justin Greenwood and colourist Shari Chankhamma. Greenwood’s unique line-work is a big part of the attraction to this series, a loose , almost sketched feel. Not as loose as say, Vannessa R Del Ray’s (whose style is also quite beautiful) Greenwood’s mix of thick and thin lines for his characters makes them really stand out from the more thin precise background pencils. And what backgrounds they are! Throughout this series there have been some spectacular depictions of the innards of this space station (the Fuse) and it is in these scenes where Greenwood and colourist Shari Chankhamma really combine beautifully. There’s a memorable nearly full page splash in the last issue (#5) as Klem and Dietrich stand overlooking the ramshackle tents the cablers are forced to live under. Greenwood’s sublime pencils are eerily lit by Chankhamma’s wonderful palette. It isn’t just the pencils and colours though, Greenwood’s panel choices help carry Johnston’s pacing to a T. We get small panels as evidence is inspected, emphasizing the procedural aspect and some really impressive larger pieces that ram home the labyrinthine nature of this massive space station. Which in itself reflects the complexity of Johnston’s tale.
To my mind, there’s no doubt that The Fuse will read better in trade, as with a month between the issues I found myself needing to go back to earlier issues just to square all the events and clues in my head. But that’s the mark of a great story. Noir, revenge, detective or sci-fi, if you have an itch this series will scratch on some level. Masterful storytelling evoked through a refreshingly gritty art style, The Fuse is essential reading.
