Review & Spoilers: POET ANDERSON THE DREAM WALKER 3

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POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 cover APOET ANDERSON: THE DREAM WALKER #3 (of 3)

“” (22 pages) [no ads]

Created by: Tom DeLonge

Tom DeLonge logoWritten by: Tom DeLonge & Ben Kull

Illustrated by: Djet

Covers by: Bengal; Djet

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 cover BPublisher: Magnetic Press/To the Stars Media

Cover Price: $3.99

[Disclaimer: this issue shipped Aug. 19, 2015. However, it did not ship to my local comic shop until this week (Sept. 9, 2015) for reasons unknown. That’s three weeks overdue but it caught my eye so much that I wanted to tackle it. That being said, I wasn’t able to retrieve the other two issues but no matter since it was easy enough to pick up on the premise.]

Poet Anderson logoEnormous output has been done to promote this series. I will post the credits later but for those of you out to lunch, Tom DeLonge is the former frontman of pop punk act Blink-182 and the voice behind super-group Angels & Airwaves. He obviously has other interests than making music. His co-writer Ben Kull and French artist Djet have created a unique modern piece.

Poet Anderson with Angels & AirwavesHamlet posited in his famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy this phrase: “…what dreams may come.” This is the magical realm where imagination is indeed mightier than reality. As a result, Rem (perhaps REM?) wants to retain absolute control over this realm. One major obstacle stands in his way – the Dream Walker known as Jonas Anderson nicknamed Poet for his extraordinary powers. Jonas and his brother Alan are both targets due to their inherent ability (from their mother) to remain completely aware of the dreamscape. Unfortunately, the boogie man is winning since he possessed their mother and made them orphans as a result.

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 orphaned againPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 bond between brothersThe two scribes effectively execute the downward spiral the teens are experiencing. Their ally Ayo holds her own until she shuffles off this mortal coil. The boys have been put through the wringer! Thus, it is surprising (or not) that they readily head off with their new foster father and accept him despite his creepiness. They should have followed their instincts. REM has taken over the body of the dirty old man and has brought them to his domain.

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 crushed by REMIt’s Alan’s first visit but Jonas is a repeat visitor. The shocking reveal of their parentage comes to light dark. The nightmarish overlord makes his intentions clear: take Poet under his wing and hone his skills of traveling between worlds. The extra incentive is preventing bodily harm to his blond-haired brother. Jonas succeeds and disappears. Alan will be retrieved soon enough but Ayo kicks the bucket. REM has time on his side. He is confident that the Poet will enhance his powers and come to accept him.

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Jonas powers upPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Jonas powers up 2POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Jonas powers up 3The two sibs put their feet on the ground and hit the road: they refuse to be wards of the system. Jonas has taken a step back – he can’t remember any previous dreams nor does he believe he’ll be able to ever again implying insomnia.

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 on our ownI don’t want to place any one genre on this book but it appeals to youth fiction as well as fantasy. The entire issue has a manga feel (and not just for the art). Big battles, dramatic developments, emotional episodes. The series deliberately has no resolution. The saga carries on in a novel co-written by Mr. DeLonge and Suzanne Young. The adage of only seven story types applies but Mssrs. Kull and DeLonge manage to add their own interpretation.

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 continuation 1POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 continuation 2POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sequel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Djet Stéphane is heavily inspired by Japanese animation. The colours are the highlight: strong and bold in the foreground; lightly brushed in the background. The best depiction of the manga/animé aesthetic is Alan’s astounded expression when Jonas is snatched. Ayo is a formidable fighter. I’m a sucker for butt-kicking no-nonsense take-charge females. Despite just meeting her, she really grew on me. It’s most unfortunate she had to pass away. REM is an eerie elongated version of Death’s Head.

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 manga Alan

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Ayo attacks!POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Ayo doesn't quit

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Rem 1POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Rem 2

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 Ayo and AlanBen Kull is not a name I recognized but I have seen his CV on IMDB. He has dabbled on both the big and small screens. Imagine my surprise in learning that POET ANDERSON was an animated short film first (15 minutes) released last year with him delivering the scrip and Mr. DeLonge co-directing with Edgar Martins and Sergio Martins. I must view it!! Many times it is difficult to determine the creator’s contribution when it involves a joint effort. I will not make any false assumptions. Ben and Tom focus on a tight-knit group of characters: four maximum, downsized to three. That’s it, that’s all.

Dream WalkerPoet Anderson fan art

 

 

 

 

 

Poet Anderson on the moonPoet Anderson walking the moon

I am unsure as to who did the lettering but I will state this: all the sound effects are delivered with aplomb or finesse. I had to squint a few times to catch a few. Luckily, I re-read like crazy!!

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 1 - stabPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 6 - clingPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 2 - glang

 

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 3 - roarPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 4 - scratchPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 5 - swallowPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 9 - grabPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 8 - ROARPOET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 sound 10 - spat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the Stars, Inc. is an impressive enterprise sporting a sizeable site with varied interests: music, movies, accessories, apparel, art, and books. “To the Stars, Inc. is an independent record label and intellectual property creation studio based in San Diego, California and founded by Tom DeLonge of blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves.  To The Stars focuses its efforts on transmedia storytelling experiences that transcend traditional media platforms including music, comics, animations and film.  In 2011 the company released LOVE, a double album and award winning feature film exploring the effects of isolation on human consciousness.”

To the Stars Media logoTo the Stars Media designPOET ANDERSON has tees, artwork, animation cels, CDs, and hardcovers at its disposal!!

POET ANDERSON HC and CDMagnetic Press is an entry point for those experiencing their big break or old pros wanting to swim in different waters.  Awesome, blossom!!

Magnetic Press logoMagnetic Press designThe inner mind is the crux of the POET ANDERSON universe. Going back to Hamlet’s soliloquy, the full sentence is For in that sleep of death… He doesn’t just emote existential angst. The dreamworld has major symbolic significance. The two terms are synonymous. It takes up eight lines of the thirty-five long monologue.

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 back cover

Off to Dreamland I go! I hope not to encounter REM or any Night Stalkers nor Night Terrors. Acknowledging the sleep cycle most humans experience, I give this 4.5 out of 5 [90%].

POET ANDERSON, the DREAM WALKER #3 infoThis review was made possible by purchase of this book at my local comic shop:

Gotham Central logoGotham Central ad 2015 feat. Deadpool

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