From Image Comics, writer Brian K. Vaughan (Saga), artist Steve Skroce, letterer Fonografiks and colorist Matt Hollingsworth comes the epic mini series about a future war between Canada and The United States of America. Check out my review of We Stand on Guard issue 5.
WE STAND ON GUARD is an action-packed, military thriller set in the 22nd century. The series follows a heroic band of Canadian civilians-turned-freedom fighters who take up arms against a violent invasion of their country by a technologically superior nation: the United States of America.
If you had a good time with the pace set in issue 4, then issue 5 (the one before the final chapter) is even more breakneck chaotic with casualties on both sides of the USA vs Canada throwdown. I had some issues with the robotic overload last chapter and although that theme tends to repeat itself here at times, it’s not nearly as muddled. Not to mention the battle gets downright ferocious at times. Amber is a genuine badass and I loved seeing that her brother was actually alive and hanging out in the prison camp at the start of this issue. I didn’t see that coming — good stuff there Vaughan.
We ended on a nasty cliffhanger last issue and this chapter definitely delivers on the brutality promised by our lead character Amber. The future tech weaponry is something to behold and well… fear. But it’s the person vs person stuff I crave and we do get some of that and when it does happen, it’s intense. Damn intense. As the chapter winds to a close, someone’s head is blown off, someone might have been sawed nearly in half and god knows what other carnage erupted from the Canadian attack on the USA base of operations.
We Stand on Guard has been a blast. It wasn’t necessarily what I expected after the debut issue, but that’s not a bad thing per-say, it’s just “different”. The tone, the pacing, the actual battles themselves have all been unique when compared to any other book on shelves right now. Skroce’s art is definitely the standout factor here and the look of this comic is brilliant, hearkening back to a style of work from the likes of Geof Darrow. I don’t know how this series will conclude but it won’t be pretty and for that – I’m thankful.
Rating: [star rating=”4″]