Review by Frank Plowright
The Jekyll Island Chronicles plays out an alternate world history from the end of World War I, and concludes with A Last Call. New scientific developments, many manufactured from plans stolen from Nikolai Tesla are responsible for atrocities, and fantastic people have changed the world from the events recorded as our history.
Rather than continuing directly from the events closing A Devil’s Reach, it opens with a look into the past as the Czech Peter Karovik decides to leave for the USA, then returns home after four years to discover the woman he was to marry has died during the Spanish flu outbreak. It’s one of a few scenes showing the past, enabling new artist Prentiss Rollins to shine over several pages at a time supplying the likes of World War I aerial combat. He also makes the most of scenic opportunities like San Diego’s Hotel Coronado, stained glass windows and a great Christmas ending.
Writers Steve Nedvidek, Ed Crowell and Jack Lowe have been constantly expanding the cast, involving known names in different activities, and at times it makes A Last Call difficult to follow without a sharp memory. Those readers and anyone who hasn’t read the previous books will pick up that a battle is coming between two powerful forces, but at first be uncertain as to which people are allied. They succumb too often to the pitfall of spotlighting someone famous despite their part in the proceedings being minimal. Featuring Adolf Hitler’s failed 1923 revolution, for instance, allows for some great art from Rollins, but it’s all a distraction leading to one ending that’s all too easy.
The writers play a long game in covering a period of just over a year, the frequent use of dates being important, and they build the tension well by covering those on both sides of the conflict developing their weapons and defences. There’s no disappointment either once the conflict breaks out, Rollins again maximising the possibilities of intriguingly designed technology.
No-one who’s been captivated by The Jekyll Island Chronicles from the beginning is likely to be disappointed at the way it plays out and pays off. Over three volumes it’s occasionally meandered, but in its entirety it’s a thrilling chronicle of an alternate world.
