The 8th Wonder
Published by Dark Horse Comics
24 pages (no ads)
$2.95 original cover price

In an age when all mechanical wonders are powered by coal, the Trans-European Empire attempts the incredible, perhaps impossible, task of building a massive, city-sized bridge across the Atlantic. What better time for a mousey, yet brilliant little scientist to come along with an astounding new invention, which provides clean, abundant power, in an almost magical way. When Dr. Viln Agrine does so, however, he draws the attention, and greedy machinations of Lord Parsons, "the Fourth Earl of Dogsbottom," and is thrown into the lower levels of the bridge, to be used as slave labor. What, now, for the doctor, his invention, and the amazing bridge? Having originally appeared serialized, in Dark Horse Presents, issues 85 through 87.

The 8th Wonder was collected in 1997. To date, it is one of the most unusual stories I've ever read. Unusual is good, in a medium that continues to need fresh material to balance out a steady...and stale...diet of super heroes. Writer Peter Janes pens a tale which is unusual in it's ability to grasp and hold a reader. Agrine elicits sympathy as a protagonist, just as Parsons proves an entertaining, properly-villainous antagonist.

Kilian Plunkett's art work is, to be blunt, amazing. It's unusual, in that such detail is rarely seen in comics. One of the most talented artists in the comics industry, his work possesses an amazing sense of depth and complexity, and does not become "muddled," when working in black and white, as the work of many artists does. His characters are visually entertaining, as he seems to have mastered the art of character expression. The 8th Wonder is definitely one of those works in which the art helps an already-ample story tremendously.

The 8th Wonder is recommended for those who enjoy good science fiction, and superior characterization.

Find it in comic shops, online auctions, or comic conventions. (Don't ignore the bargain box!)

Mark Allen

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