Sometimes it can be hard to get into a new book, delving into unfamiliar settings head-first. Black Beacon never really has that problem, though, taking readers into a new world that’s fully immersive.
Black Beacon doesn’t over-explain anything or confuse the reader with so much techno-babble in an attempt to give details about the world in which the story is set. This works out beautifully because the main character, Niko Vaughan, is just as new to this world as the reader. It’s nice then, to figure out this place as she does — and we only ever know as much as she does. It creates a really immersive read.
Niko herself is actually a really relatable character, the “average Joe” type who got put in a highly unique situation. No one really expected a writer to be the one sent on this Celestial Mission, but her job is to catalog her findings so that other humans have a record of everything. The character Ryan K Lindsay creates here is instantly lovable and it’s hard not be excited for future installments in this series to see more of her. Niko’s personal thought bubbles reveal someone who feels a bit lost at times, though she clearly has a sense of adventure within her at the same time — this is a character who will surely resonate with certain fans.
Heavy Metal
Bar V is the other standout character, both because of his design and his instantly lovable personality. Like Niko, he appears to be very inquisitive, though he seems to also have a very strong moral compass that gets him into trouble at times. Bar’s interest in Niko is mostly revealed through his interactions with other people, which provides for some interesting build-up for their paths to cross more eventually.
Lindsay has written some instantly lovable characters who are wholly unique in their own right and Sebastian Priz was the perfect artist to bring this vision to life. There’s a certain charm to his art that’s both simplistic and incredibly detailed. Pages leap to life as Priz flexes his art skills. The character designs are unique and the colors are perfect for this art style.
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