Fell

Another creation from the brain of Warren Ellis. Fell can be explained in one word: creepy. Well "creepy" isn't the only reason that Fell has been enjoying success. Fell is about Richard Fell, a police detective that has been transferred across the bridge from the City to Snowtown. Snowtown is a seedy, dark district of town that seems to have its own set of rules. The tagline is that in Snowtown, everybody has secrets, even Fell himself.

The art is by Ben Templesmith. I haven't seen any of his artwork before, but I think it fits this title very well. Templesmith's art is very similar to Ashley Wood's with one notable exception, I can actually tell what's going on. His style is very dirty and it fits the feel of Snowtown. I don't think the book would be as interesting if it was illustrated in the traditional manner found in comic books. I like the fact that I can't really tell too much about the surroundings. Templesmith uses this to concentrate on the characters. There are no crazy splash pages, and the book frequently utilizes the standard 9-panel per page layout, which is great for telling a story in 16 pages. The colours used also add to the atmosphere in Fell. I'm telling you, the book just makes me feel creepy.

In the first issue, Richard Fell spends his first day in his new assignment to Snowtown. He meets Mayko, the owner of a bar that gives him the lowdown on Snowtown. Richard quickly learns that things are down differently in Snowtown as Mayko tries to protect him by branding him with Snowtown's symbol. That's some crazy shit dude. On his way home from Mayko's, Fell stops a mugging that leads to more crazy shit. Just think Wine enemas....

I don't know where Warren Ellis comes up with these ideas but they're awesome. I think he really pushes the limits in a lot of his books. His run on Stormwatch was amazing and it created that whole violent super-hero theme. Marvel's Ultimates? A tame knockoff of Wildstorm's Authority. These Brits are crazy I say and I gobble up everything they write. I'm glad Ellis is not exclusive like many other creators. It gives him the freedom to explore lesser projects that I think are great reads. Desolation Jones, Planetary, Ministry of Space, Global Frequency are all great reads and Fell is just as good.

Another great thing about Fell is the cover price. With each issue only 16 pages, the cover price is 1.99 US. That's a great price for a good read. Comic books have become an expensive hobby so it's difficult for fans to collect everything. This lower price makes it easier for people to pick and try. I didn't even notice the page difference as so much happens in one book (thanks to the layouts). No huge splash pages mean that more of the story can be told.

The one disclaimer is that Fell is not for younger audiences. Honestly though, none of Warren Ellis' work is meant for young audiences. Ellis creates material that is aimed towards the mature market. There's profanity, occasional nudity and lots of violence in Fell so if you don't like that kind of stuff, stay away. Otherwise, try out a few issues and see if you like Warren Ellis' Fell.

Dragoncrypt