Excellence #4 // Review
The newest installment of Image Comics/Skybound "Excellence" written and created by Brandon Thomas is simply Black Magic!
"Excellence" delves deeper into what now appears to be a more sinister motive behind the Aegis' rules, laws, and tenets of magic that are constantly being drilled into Spencer Dales, Aaron Mills, and the reader. As the laws, codes, and runes are repeated throughout the pages and panels in the story. The climax of the magical confrontation in New York between Spencer and Aaron leave both of the young magicians in a position to reevaluate everything they've ever known. As Aaron draws closer to his father figure Raymond Dales, Spencer is putting up more figurative walls between him and his father. As one of the young wizards finds himself literally behind walls as punishment. Spencer and Aaron are also offered a very personal portal into understanding each other with Spencer's internal struggles with anger and hate finally being brought to the forefront.
Artist Khary Randolph and brilliant colorist Emilio Lopez use clean, straight lines and futuristic submissions. The most intriguing aspects of Excellence are the immaculate layout and design by Andres Juarez and the precise lettering by Derron Bennett. His beautifully designed runes and symbols add an air of mysticism and authenticity to Khary Randolph's hip hop aesthetics. As spells are cast and Emilio Lopez's brilliant colors pop from the pages and enhance the young wizard's battle. From the hairstyles to the jewelry and wands, Randolph and Lopez bring Brandon Thomas' world of magic to life on each page. And Juarez and Bennett set the table with a feeling of structure around a world of mysticism.
Spencer is coming to the conclusion that his father and the Aegis are part of a massive control system. This internal struggle is now pushing him to his emotional limit. Leaving him more out of control, projecting the disdain and fraternal angst he has for Raymond Dales onto anyone he encounters. Yet his anger is just the facade of a young man that's seeking to prove his father wrong and gain his approval at the same time. "Excellence" is a magical journey into Afrofuturism. Written, colored, and drawn by people of color. But it does not have that targeted audience feel to it. The latest installment has us asking more questions about the Aegis' motive and wondering where the trajectory of Spencer's angst will land next!
