“Prometheus: Fire and Stone” #2 picks up exactly where #1 left off with the crew entering the Xenomorph invested ship only to be quickly dispatched in any number of horrific ways. There is as much juicy plot development here as there is carnage and mayhem. This is one of the most exciting books I’ve read in recent memory and beyond that is successful in a multitude of ways. “Fire and Stone” needs to be read all together to really appreciate how much greater it is than the sum of its parts but, as a flagship, “Prometheus” is consistently exceeding expectations on its own.
WRITTEN BY: Paul Tobin
ART BY: Juan Ferreyra
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: October 15, 2014
Review By Eric Switzer
Tobin is spinning a lot of plates in this book, and so far not a single one has fallen. This book has a lot on its shoulders: it has to tell an engaging story with interesting characters in just four issues while both feeling true to the limited source material and expanding upon the ideas and events from the film, then it has to integrate with the other “Fire and Stone” books creating a larger narrative and giving the other stories more depth without ruining what those creators are doing but yet find a balance that feels cohesive and important. “Prometheus” is doing all of that and more.
It is arguably the main event in this cross-over story. It was the first one released and introduced the characters and events in the other books. This issue gives a lot of insight into the other titles and I’m consistently impressed with the depth that Tobin is giving this story. In no way is it straight forward, rather more questions are asked before others can be addressed, “Fire and Stone” feels like a deeply complex and carefully constructed narrative. It is something you may not have expected from these franchises, but I for one am delighted by it.
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t mention Ferreyra’s work. His panels are breathtaking, his creatures are imaginative and horrifying. This book took me twice as long to read as other books because I was so engaged with the art. Like Tobin, Ferreyra is a master of balance: his work is raw and kinetic yet finely detailed. I’m really blown away by every aspect of this book.
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Eric Switzer is an aspiring filmmaker and screenplay writer living in Los Angeles. His work tends to focus on the lighter side of entropy, dystopic futures, and man’s innate struggle with his own mortality. He can be found on twitter @epicswitzer or reached via email at ericswitzerfilm@gmail.com.
