Shutter #15 Review

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A dose of Fourth Wall breaking and a catch up with a whole bunch of characters make up this month’s issue of Shutter. This means that Kate takes a bit of a back seat but it doesn’t mean the action lets up.

Some secrets are revealed and there is an origin story of sorts for Shaw (but it doesn’t look good for Kate’s youngest sibling, Chris). Everyone is searching for something and most of it relates to Kate. Basically Kate appears to be the centre of the universe and this all comes out in the magnificent opening to this issue.

There is too much going on in the story to breakdown here, you’ll just have to go and read it, but the opening is a work of genius. It’s a comic book version of the ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The sequence revolves around Kate (obviously) as her grandfather explains the importance of their family. While this happens the art takes Kate (and the reader) out of her world and into a different reality where Kate and her adventures are nothing more than pictures within a comic book. Joe Keatinge and Leila Del Duca illustrate the production of their own comic in a piece of meta fiction that boarders on the self-indulgent except of course it all relates so perfectly with the story that’s been building over the last 14 issues. When you reach page 6 and the whole process loops on itself you will find yourself agreeing with Kate’s statement at the opening of this issue; “Everything’s so fucking beautiful.”

The art work is as exceptional as ever, drawing the reader around through a complex unfolding narrative while somehow managing to keep the action centre stage. Del Duca has a great ability in highlighting what is important in each panel by using close ups and wide shots as needed. The emotional state of each character is visible on each page so when Chris is fished from the waters surrounding Leonis you know that he is too bewildered to understand his situation but each of the other characters exude nothing but doom.

Special mention needs to go to the colourist Owen Gieni for this issue as it is his work that brings each of the different environments to life and in this issue especially that’s no mean feat. There are a whole host of scenes that stand out from each other as the slight change in palate eases the reader from one location to another. This is best illustrated in the shift from the muted colours of the ‘real, comic reading’ world and that occupied by Kate and her Grandfather; their world is so much more vibrant and more appealing and the colour strikes you as you flip from the dullness of our world to the beauty of theirs.

The story is engaging, intelligent and beautifully rendered; it’s not surprising that this comic has a loyal following. If you’re not one of those, I highly suggest joining the party.

Title: Shutter

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer: Joe Keatinge

Artist: Leila Del Duca

Colours: Owen Gieni

Letterer: John Workman