The Encoded Vol. 1

The Encoded Vol.1

Devil’s Due Comics 2021

Created by Josh Blaylock

Written by Josh Blaylock & Mark Powers

Illustrated by Jethro Morales

Coloured by Juan M. Rodriguez

Lettered by Micah Myers

What if our fears of a tyrannical A.I. turn out to be unfounded, but nevertheless, humanity forces this machine intelligence to fight back? In 2045 we survive a brush with oblivion when the A.I. AURELIUS achieves singularity -quickly deactivated but not without a fight. A decade later governments ensure it never returns by activating the "Analog Protocol" - frequently and without warning. Citizens must expect, at any time, to lose all digital capabilities. What they don't know is that AURELIUS left a piece of its mind behind - in a simple hemp farmer known only as Epictetus.

I have to say that I really like what Devil’s Due puts out and this is the second of their recent titles that is coming in a new format, for them, which is fantastic to see. The larger page count and calling them volumes is a nice added touch. It really gives us a chance to get into this story in ways that are extremely impressive to me. Without having to make sure the story fits into a standard issues worth of pages means we get that extra bit of story and characterisation that keep us engaged and interested in the story and characters we meet along the way. This is a sensational new format and I look forward to seeing more titles from Devil’s Due in this manner.

I am a huge fan of the way that this is being told. The story & plot development that we see through how the sequence of events unfold as well as how the reader learns information is being presented beautifully. The way we get to see this being structured and how the layers within the story begin to emerge showcase how the story needs to be told so that we can follow along in such a way that feels natural. The character development is fantastic! Once we get into the main part of the story and its major players are introduced we get to know them pretty well through how the act and react to the situations and circumstances they encounter. It’s not just them either as the peripheral characters are given some great personalities of their own as well. The pacing we see as it takes us through the pages revealing the story and the twists and turns along the way is fantastic!

The interiors here are utterly marvellous! The linework that we see is phenomenal and how through it’s varying weights we see the detail work emerge really manages to bring us further into this world. There is something about it that is so classically comic book style and yet it also allows for the creativity and imagination to really shine through in some not so obvious and expected ways. Not going to lie i’m sorry that while Judd was doing his business we didn’t see “more” of him but how that all played out is exactly what I am referring to. With the backgrounds and how we see the composition within the panels bringing us depth perception, a sense of scale and that overall sense of size and scope to the book it’s really well conceived. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a strong and talented eye for storytelling. The colour work is really well rendered. I like how we see the various hues and tones within the colours being utilised to create the shading, highlights and shadow work.

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This is so much damn fun! I really am enjoying seeing this world and getting a glimpse into science fiction that comes with a surprising social commentary that you would expect to see, let alone where it comes from. This is some innovative stuff with the format of the book and how the story’s ebb & flow comes across the reader. I am looking forward to see the next issue that is for darn sure!