Top Of The Pile: The Stand - Soul Survivors #1

The juggernaut that is Marvel's episodic adaptation of Stephen King's The Stand trundles on with the latest story arc: Soul Survivors.

I rather suspect that if I didn't already know the basic story (from the TV mini-series, not the book, I must confess) I might not be so forgiving of this epic's slow pace, but as it is I find the gradual introduction of the characters and their individual journies towards their ultimate destinations pleasantly absorbing.

This issue, as ever penned by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and illustrated beautifully by Mike Perkins, concentrates on deaf-mute Nick Andros (Rob Lowe in the TV series) and his teaming-up with the mentally-challenged man-child Tom Collins (the master of the homely catchphrase; "M-O-O-N spells...", "My laws!" etc).

While the real horror has yet to come, the disabled duo have a brush with a wicked twister bearing the face of Randall Flagg and unstable teenager Julie Lawry, who trashes their supplies and takes potshots at them from a hotel window after Nick refuses to let her come with them.

I simply can't imagine how many individual comic book issues it will take to adapt the whole of King's story, but as post-apocalyptic road trips go - as long as the art and writing maintains the high standards that have been set to date - I can't see this being a title I drop from my pull list.