5 out of 5

While James Stokoe maybe isn’t exactly a household name amongst comic fans, his spotlit cover work and full-page promotions when a new project of his is coming out suggests that he’s definitely recognized as part of the artist tier that, y’know, sells books.  But while I tend to think that some guys of this uber-detailed art realm sell more based on look over their comics’ contents, Stokoe is an amazing double-whammy of story and art, having proven capable of tones ranging from serious to silly, but all worth actually reading.   That said, Wonton Soup and Orc Stain may be a little world-building heavy for some, and his Aliens and Godzilla series are possibly more inviting for those interested in those properties.

So it is wacky as all heck to me that the most accessible, and possibly most directly entertaining, book that Stokoe has thus far made – one-shot Sobek – seemed to slip under the radar, appearing on a non-American indie imprint, available only via their website.  And lest you worry that that off-brandness sacrifices some type of printing quality, nope: glorious color, thick pages, embossed cover…  Not to mention (again) how great the book is, eliciting laugh-out-loud joke timing, and Stokoe’s usual (and as usual, amazing) grand sense of scale and insane detailing and paneling.

Sobek is a giant alligator god.  He’s who you pray to when giant jackal god Set is wrecking your town.  He might take some snoozes on his way to help, and Sobek doesn’t really watch where his giganto alligator legs are stomping, but, y’know, you’ll likely be Set free at the end of things.

‘Sobek’ the book is that simple, but it’s such a romp that you’ll likely read it a few times, then a few times more, sinking in the ace artistry and pacing of this thing.

Yes, I’d go as far as to say that this would be a fine starting point for getting in to Stokoe, but if you’re already a fan, it is an absolute buy.