Translucid #3

by Claudio Sanchez, Chondra Echert, Daniel Bayliss & Adam Metcalfe

This book is a thing of nightmares, yikes. Mid-way through this six-part series and writers Claudio Sanchez and Chondra Echert, along with the art duo of Daniel Bayliss and Adam Metcalfe, are turning the weird levels up to eleven. Cornelius can’t catch a break and it seems like his entire world is unraveling.

Sanchez and Echert blend together both “worlds” more than previous issues while still staying focused on what we’ll call “reality”. A budding genius in his own right, Cornelius’ life seems to be headed in a much brighter direction until disaster strikes and not only is it heart breaking, it’s potentially an interesting hint into what’s to come. Granted, both Sanchez and Echert have said nobody is going to guess where they’re taking this story, it seems like the pieces are falling into place. But maybe the rug will be completely pulled out from under us in the next issue. You just can’t tell with these two and in a book like this where realities seem to bend together, it’d be hard to put money on any one outcome when this is all said and done.

Once again, Daniel Bayliss and colorist Adam Metcalfe step up to the plate and knock it out of the park. The twisted designs from Bayliss towards the end and the fantastic color choices from Metcalfe, clearly defining the two realities, really come together to make something special. Bayliss is amazingly consistent in his character depictions and the movement in certain scenes is fantastic. Even the train station scene with Cornelius going one way and his brother the other was imaginative and expertly crafted. It’s been said about previous issues, but particularly in the coloring department, this book is an absolute treat. To get these vibrant, bright colors in a book that would be, generally speaking, very dark and dreary is just fantastic. It really sets a standard that hopefully other people will follow. Just because the story is dark doesn’t mean the reader needs to be trapped in a black and grey toned world.

Even just from a visual stand point, Translucid is something you need to check out. But, lucky you, this book is not just standing on the merits of art alone. You’ll also get to see just how deep of a story Sanchez and Echert are crafting and then you can start guessing just where they’re going to take it. Not that you’ll be right, because these two are tricky, but it never hurts to try. At the end of the day come for the art, stay for the story; it’s just that simple.