Afterlife Inc. – Man Made God Review
What is Afterlife Inc.?
Afterlife Inc. is an ongoing series about a con man called Jack Fortune who died, and turned it into a business opportunity. Arriving in the afterlife after a cataclysmic event that saw the place in turmoil Jack formed Afterlife Inc. and revolutionised The Empyrean.
Man Made God
Afterlife Inc.’s fourth volume is subtitled Man Made God and it’s a fitting title. It’s as ambiguous as Jack’s morality. I really love Jack as a character. On the surface he seems like a fly by night con artist. Making shit up as he goes to get himself out of trouble. Under that facade though is man who has truly come to understand and respect the position he is now in. At least that how his journey has appeared to me.
I discovered Afterlife Inc. at a convention a few years ago and fell in love with the idea. A con man running the Great Beyond? Sounds great!
As I started reading I got hooked on the motley crew Jack has assembled around him as the “board” of Afterlife Inc. This assortment of angels and former humans have come together under Jack’s leadership and somehow the writer has managed to make all of these characters a meaningful part of the story. Everyone has a part to play, whether that’s Warrior Angel Lux or stoic Archangel Anahel, in how Jack keeps the delicate balance in the Empyrean.
Highlights
One of my favourite things about this series is that as it has developed, so has its…uh… social conscience? As Jack has grown in to leadership, so the content that is tackled has grown more socially aware. In the afterword on this volume, writer Lock states that most of this book was planned out before the world we are currently living in got so crazy. But there has obviously been a degree of influence, and the message that results is important.
That’s not to say it’s all seriousness. My absolute highlight of this issue, the thing that made me yell so loudly my boyfriend asked what was going on, was the disembodied head of Nikola Tesla pulling a Leeroy Jenkins. If you have been living under a rock for the last 14 years and have managed to escape the cultural phenomenon that is Leeroy then you should watch this video. I was in absolute hysterics at that!
The blend of action, drama and comedy seems to be pretty much spot on.
I also love the fact that even with a variety of artists working on the various chapters, there is still a very cohesive feel to the art. Not that different art styles are necessarily a bad thing if you’re talking about an anthology. But that’s not what this is, so the consistency of styles is important.
Where to find it
The entire run is available in webcomic form here. This includes Volume 5 and some extra bits like the brilliant “So You’re Dead – a Guide to the Afterlife”. Big Punch Comics are also regulars at conventions across the UK so keep an eye out for them in the comic village/artist alley of a convention near you.
Kickstarter
The 5th print volume is about to go to print, with the run being funded on Kickstarter. There are a number of tiers (aptly titled after various employment ranks, with equally apt “corporate jargon” descriptors) available that will allow anyone to jump in. Digital or print, you can choose your preference, and there are plenty of ways for newcomers to the series to obtain all the previous volumes (at a discount to the RRP too!!). At the time of writing they are already fully funded with 29 days to go!
