Home Sick Pilots #7
Brent Jackson
Recap
Well, it has only been two weeks since the previous issue of Home Sick Pilots. Previously we learned about the government group "System Disrupt" the authorities own group of misfits trying to harness the power of ghosts into giant "mecha" fighting machines. You know normal military stuff. As Meg and Trip are somewhat on boar with system disrupt in Home Sick Pilots #7 we find out what Ami, Buzz and the Old James House are up too.
Review
Writing
Look, I am not going to harp on the fact that I still do not know 100% what exactly is happening with this series. Or what the ghosts and everything have to do with anything or what exactly the plot is. The main thread of this series is still completely lost by me. But, let’s stay with Dan Watters pens a sweet little love story in Home Sick Pilots #7.
Watters does a fantastic job with the relationship between Ami and Buzz. There is a lot of character work here that starts to fill on some backstory gaps for them. It is a nice little look into the characters and it lets Watters slow down the story some, to let the readers start to connect with them more.
This issue almost felt like a nice “reset” of sorts. Not exactly a superb jumping on point but, it gives you a little bit of a recap and starts setting up some bigger plot points going forward. Watters does his best when he is focusing on Ami and he gets a lot out of the character in this issue.
Art
Caspar Wijngaard gets to play around with some different colors and settings in Home Sick Pilots #7. We are used to by now the delightful use of pinks, blues, reds and such throughout this series. Wijngaard continues that theme in this issue but also settles down a bit as well.
There are a wonderful few scenes of Buzz and Ami sitting on a beach dune talking that Wijngaard captures magnificently. The soft pale yellow coloring, the way the wind is blowing the reeds, you can almost feel the saltwater in the air. Wijngaard brings you right into that moment with those characters.
If I have one minor complaint art wise, I would like Wijngaards charters to be a little more expressive and have a little more “movement” to them. The facial expressions and characters feel a little “stiff” throughout the issue.
I do love Wijngaard’s panel layout and panel stacking for Home Sick Pilots #7. Nothing crazy set up wise but nice simple layouts that flow this more emotional , love story issue incredibly well. Nice pacing throughout the issue.
Final Thoughts
Home Sick Pilots continues to be a series for me that I like, but have a hard time with at the same time. I think the first few issues not focusing on the characters hurt it a little bit. As these issues start to connect us back with the friends/bandmates of The Home Sick Pilots. Bt, the concept and overall "idea" of the story coming together is a ton of fun. Giant walking, fighting haunted houses, controlled like mechs powered by ghosts! I think this series is starting to slowly morph into what it needs to be, just hope it is not too late for it.
Home Sick Pilots #7: Love, Ghosts, Punk Woes
- Writing - 7.5/107.5/10
- Storyline - 7/107/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10