When you’re halfway through a story there are a few factors when it comes to keeping the readers’ interest: do we know these characters well enough yet and do we know where they’re going? I’m not so sure when it comes to Clive Barker’s Next Testament, but maybe issue #6 will shed some light: is it good?
Clive Barker’s Next Testament #6 (BOOM! Studios)
Missed our review of #3? You sillies we’ve got it here.
If you’re just joining this 12-part series, God has been awakened from a mysterious pyramid by a madman. This madman’s son is aware his father is off his rocker, discovers his little secret and proceeds to plan to stop this God from doing harm.
You see, this God is no good deity, but in fact was trapped for a reason under the sands. Since he’s awakened he’s learning what has become of the creatures he created and he likes what he sees. He also likes to blow their heads up with/without a thought. He’s cruel, frightening and simply loving his power. Last issue he went to the one city his madman friend associated with debauchery more than any other, San Francisco, and he’s set up shop for a Q and A session with the human peons. This can’t end well.
Stop being such a drag dude.
I’ve enjoyed every minute of writers Clive Barker and Mark Miller’s work in this series, particularly God’s enjoyment of human frailty and weakness. It’s a great way to show how disturbed we humans can be, when a far more disturbing God is loving it. This issue is a lot of fun because they are showing us a scene that everyone has dreamed about, namely to ask God anything you want. It’s highly entertaining to see all his answers and how dark and twisted they are. How frightening would it be if God, with a smile, told you there was no heaven and certainly he would have never created a devil.
On the other side we have the madman’s son Tristan, trying to escape some raving lunatics who think the end times are upon us. This character arc isn’t so great, possibly because they’ve been mostly on the run and have only reacted to the world around them. The characters are rather flat — just two married young people on a mission, but what that mission is remains to be seen. What can they possibly do to a god who can wipe out the entire Midwest with a thought? I suppose the same goes for what is happening with God, because as it is he seems to be having a field day and nothing more. He’s getting acclimated to the new world, but what is his end game? He can’t possibly roam around for 6 more issues right?
The art by Haemi Jang continutes to be an excellent combo with the story. His dark inks give the pages a sense of dread and underlying evil that’s always present. The gore is always rendered exceptionally realistic and the faces are all unique and interesting. Basically his style is brutal and fits perfectly with the dark and twisted nature of this horrific story.
You sound like my ex girlfriend.
9.5
- Great dialogue that should tickle any atheists fancy
- Art continues to excel in its dark and twisted style
- Not feeling the Tristan’s storyline
Is It Good?
This series continues to excel in the horror of a God who is not caring, not loving and not anybody you’d want to spend a minute with. The premise is intriguing, but the art and dialogue so compelling you’d be a moronic pion of a human not to pick up this godly work.
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