The Heart of ABRACAX
The New Apocrypha (Book 1)
by Jon Towers
Review by James R.Cain
"The Heart of ABRACAX" is a sizable graphic novel by Jon Towers about an unlikely hero, Jonny Axx who'se caught up in a war between Archangels and demons for the heart of a vanquished demon Lord. Often doubtful of his own sanity, Axx blunders along from one violent confrontation to another. The action's unforgiving, reflecting the merciless nature of the Archangels, and Axx's interspersed commentary provides an intriguing insight into this complex individual and the society in which we live.
I really liked Tower's b/w illustration and thought it was a very appropriate style for the subject matter. Simply put, he captures wavering sanity of the protagonist and the violence of the world Axx finds himself in. My only complaint would be about the use of blurred frames or partial blurred frames to accentuate action or wavering states of perception. It's undoubtedly a good idea, however when your caught up in the tale, it becomes unforgiving on the eyes and I would have preferred Tower's undiluted crisp illustration. He's a talent without the need of aids.
As a fan of pulp and Manga, I really enjoyed this book. I thought Tower's provided a refreshing contemporary interpretation of the Angel-demon war mythology. Simply put, I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Publisher: Wasteland Press
ISBN: 1-932852-22-0