Reviewed By: Torin Chambers. “Shutter” #9 is another high point for the series that constantly polarizes me. Some of its longest standing questions are starting to unveil themselves, and damn if it isn’t an exciting read. When Shutter has concluded this will be looked upon as the issue where the story took a definite turn. The world has opened up in a way the series hasn’t done before, alternate realities are coming into play in a small way but one that won’t stay small for long I’m sure.
WRITTEN BY: Joe Keatinge
ART BY: Leila De Duca
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: February 11, 2015
Opening on Paris, France in 1889 during The Exposition Universelle. (A World’s Fair) We follow Jean-Paul Mignet and Magali who’re on their way to something much more exciting than The Exposition Universelle, they’re going to Prospero. Magali is more cautious and concerned about what they are venturing into but Jean-Paul inversely is ecstatic about the idea of Prospero. Seeing it instead as a fabulous and astonishing look into the future. An especially sinister looking man, machine or possibly a little of both takes them into Prospero, he/it’s possibly the one in charge.
He gives them a brief and foreboding introduction to Prospero, showing off a few key sights before unveiling the magnificent ‘Porticullis Hypnos’ of Professor Harold Rathborn. A magical machine that acts as an entrance to dreams! That’s really quite amazing and will be very key to future events but there’s a particular statement that the man/machine makes that intrigued me indefinitely. He states “Our impossible creatures, stolen from unknown realities…” Could this be a subtle hint at why Shutters world is so similar yet also fantastical? Could it be that their earth was just as ours but then sometime around the turn of the century a massive discovery was made that brought all those wondrous creatures to our world? It’s not 100% proof but it’s an alluring thought.
Leila De Duca’s visuals are on point as always, especially during the opening within Prospero, which looks absolutely stunning. The issue gets a wee bit psychedelic towards the end that I loved. If that is any indication Shutter #10 will be an absolute visual delight.
“Shutter” is back in top form this month.
—
Torin Chambers is a rad dude from the nineties who does film stuff or something. Thomas the Tank Engine is his favorite transformer. Find him on Twitter @TorinsChambers
