WEDNESDAY COMICS REVIEWS: FISHFLIES #1 soars

This week’s lead assessment is Fishflies #1, the most recent creator-owned e-book from Jeff Lemire. Plus, the Wednesday Comics Team has its traditional rundown of the brand new #1s, finales and different notable points from non-Big 2 publishers, all of which yow will discover under … take pleasure in!

Fishflies #1

Writer/Artist: Jeff Lemire
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: Image Comics

Fishflies #1 sees Jeff Lemire functioning as author, artist and colorist with letters and designs by Steve Wands. From the primary web page, Lemire paints (actually) a transparent temper using what appears like watercolor over his inks. There’s one thing fascinating about his use of an virtually sickly yellow within the gutters of the pages that provides a form of gross really feel to issues and that’s a praise with the tone of the story and what occurs within the pages.

From trekking barefoot throughout a sea of fishflies, to a hulking fly mutant, Lemire achieves a way of the uncanny that rivals Cronenberg’s personal fly narrative. The first characters we’re launched to are a bunch of children, a bit of crass, as they’re on the best way to get ice cream. Perfectly mundane, till they uncover the bottom and their native mini-mart coated in fishflies and are unsettled.

Lemire actually dials up this sequence by using a variety to seize the sheer amount of this stuff that lay earlier than the boys. With a dare, one of many boys takes his sneakers off and walks barefoot throughout the flies on their path after which, black. Fishflies does a very neat factor because the story transitions settings or time the place Lemire will place a totally black web page after which one other, solely with the phrase “crunch!” It caught me off guard initially however as a tool it really works extremely effectively to maneuver from one sequence to the following. It’s a tool not overused and even within the pages, after establishing the completely different scenes, Lemire permits time to compress a bit. This lets the reader see the mini-mart as a flashback of types, or to the person that robbed the mini-mart, a nightmare.

Lemire then introduces a 3rd shade into the palette, pink, as blood is seen on the person after which much more pink on Franny, a younger lady in poverty, residing on a farm. Franny’s stark distinction towards the extra shade washed utilization of blue and yellow actually lets her stand out in her pink jacket and her characterization lets her stand out from the opposite youngsters round her, which is punctuated by her being bullied.

Despite this, Franny’s curiosity works to arrange the dynamic between her and this unusual man as she tries to see him taken care of whereas not being significantly effectively taken care of herself. Lemire takes his time to construct up the gross issue whereas additionally constructing intrigue across the characters right here and it’s a primary problem effectively price studying.

Verdict: BUY

–Khalid Johnson

Antarctica #1

Writer: Simon Birks
Artist: Willi Roberts
Letterer: Lyndon White
Publisher: Image Comics – Top Cow

Antarctica #1: Finding one thing, or somebody, who’s been misplaced is a problem. But narrowing one in every of their final places to actually the underside of the globe a minimum of makes the search extra manageable. That’s the reasoning of Hannah Curtis when her father, a troubleshooter she remembers from childhood as powerful and secretive, goes lacking. Some of his journeys, he’d talked about, concerned working at an Antarctic analysis station.

The orphaned Hannah, underage and anchorless with out him, drifts into homelessness till a form shopkeeper helps her with room, board, and an incentive to earn a level. With her engineering credentials, Hannah takes a place on the identical analysis facility her father as soon as spoke of. Her intent will not be solely serving the bottom, however discovering out what befell her father there. In the ultimate act, an surprising supply presents data relating to his destiny. Yet, it’s a supply she’s recognized her total life and that results in a, “What?!?” second rivalling David Tennant’s most interesting.

Simon Birks has scripted an introduction giant on emotions and spartan on particulars. The how and whys are overshadowed by protagonist Hannah’s headstrong willpower and assertiveness, masking as they do a susceptible coronary heart fractured by loss. Artist Willi Roberts makes it a compellingly vibrant character research. His panels deftly minimize throughout road life, gravesides, and finally drop us right into a distant outpost sitting on The Ice, on their lonesome. Well, maybe not.

Antarctica makes stable empathic connection between reader and protagonist with out tipping its hand unduly relating to causes for Hannah’s circumstances. The remaining panel leaves us with a thriller price exploring.

–Clyde Hall

The Hunger and The Dusk

Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Christian Wildgoose
Colorist: MsassyK
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: IDW Publishing

Like many studying this proper now, I’ve fairly the fondness for G. Willow Wilson – particularly her ground-breaking work at Marvel with 2014’s Ms. Marvel [2014?! Seems like yesterday] and up to date fantasy novel The Bird King. Surprisingly sufficient, what finally drew me to Hunger and Dusk #1 was Christian Wildgoose and his energetic cowl/interiors. Regrettably, I wasn’t acquainted with Wildgoose earlier than this studying this primary problem, however his expertise is simple right here and tailored for a excessive fantasy story like this.

Hunger and Dusk opens with two native farm boys discovering {that a} band of orcs are headed instantly towards their village. What instantly turns into clear is that whereas one aspect positively fears the opposite way more, neither are prepared to make good till a typical risk forces an unlikely alliance. Craziness ensues, leaving each side reliant on each other as they journey into the unknown.

Folks, this one feels particular – and IDW agrees, seeing how that is already being solicited as an ongoing sequence. Wilson’s script and world-building are each uncomplicated and tight, however simply accomplishes precisely what it units out to do: make you take care of each the people and orcs equally. It’s price reiterating as soon as extra that Wildgoose is a star within the making within the medium. Calling my shot now: search for this one to be on many “Best Comics of 2023” lists on the finish of the yr. Easy suggest.

Verdict: BUY

—Chris Hacker (of The Oblivion Bar podcast)

Wednesday Comics Reviews

Con & On #1 (Ahoy Comics): Putting out a comic book conference single proper earlier than San Diego Comic-Con is a year-round custom that not often amazes. Con & On #1 continues this custom we as an trade have lapsed into. Between the thinly veiled jabs at cancelled creators and glib nostalgia (however for people who had been there within the 80s-90s), author Paul Cornell slops collectively what on paper appears like a robust story. Eddie is a cis-het white male comedian author failing upwards whereas his pal, Deja, is a black lady who attends portfolios solely to be gatekept by extra white male creators. The sequence appears to painting this dichotomy our trade suffers from, however with out a lot as an individual of shade on the inventive workforce, a lot of the narrative punches down or revels in, once more, white comedian dudes failing upwards. It definitely is a telling resolution for artist Marika Cresta to not present Deja’s comedian artwork to bolster that that is her medium; to additional underdog her underdog story. Deja’s solely level of validation is simply when a black actor tells her to hustle more durable. Nothing sucks the air out of SDCC season like a e-book that wishes to painting the trade’s gender dynamics from an allied aspect, however flagrantly has extra enjoyable being mean-spirited about all of it. Have enjoyable with that, y’all. —Beau Q.
Groo In The Wild #1 (Dark Horse Comics): It in all probability gained’t shock you that the primary problem of Groo within the Wild is (as anticipated) a very enjoyable and accessible learn. Written by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, illustrated by Aragonés, lettered by Stan Sakai and coloured by Carrie Strachan, this can be a enjoyable and breezy overture for the newest quantity within the reliably entertaining Groo sequence. Much of the comedy on this problem is derived from Groo’s appreciable popularity previous him, with Groo’s identify hanging concern into any coronary heart hooked up to an ear that hears it (his identify, I imply). While the omnipresent background element of Aragonés is of course current right here, it’s used extra for world-building than sight gags. Look, I really feel like I’m over-explaining it. Groo and Rufferto do some humorous stuff, and the latter seems in a one-page backup comedian after the amusing letters web page. What’s to not love? – Avery Kaplan
Sirens of the City #1 (BOOM! Studios): Written by Joanne Starer with artwork from Khary Randolph, Sirens of the City introduces readers to a world the place the supernatural and human stay aspect by aspect, typically making it arduous to inform simply who belongs the place. As extra is revealed all through the primary problem, it’s made apparent the e-book’s protagonist is much more than what she appears, her powers seen as helpful to those that want to management her as she merely needs to seek out out extra about who she is. Letters from Andworld Design shine within the e-book as among the solely supply of shade we see aside from eyes. The reds and blues as they seem pop off the web page and drive the intrigue of what’s occurring on this story. What’s so particular about how these particular phrases are spoken that may trigger a lot chaos is that this hellish model of NYC? Careful studying, as chances are you’ll end up captivated like these on this comedian to choose up the following problem to seek out out extra. –-Bryan Reheil
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Stranger Things #1 (IDW Publishing): In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Stranger Things #1, the Hawkins gang are off to New York for a area journey, however they rapidly get separated from their college group and find yourself on the subway platform listening to unusual noises. Little did they know their cursed, the other way up world has adopted them to The Big Apple. Luckily, for El and the gang, the TMNT are keen to assist. Written by Cameron Chittock, with artwork by Fero Pe, colours by Sofie Dodgson, and letters by Rus Wooton, the primary problem will get us proper as much as the primary confrontation with the large dangerous man. I do really feel some crossover fatigue with the best way two IPs are pressured to not solely introduce themselves to unfamiliar readers, but in addition attempt to inform a cohesive story. But the workforce actually pulled out the stops: the tempo is snappy, the artwork hits that traditional 80s spot, and the colours have a form of grainy movie high quality that works effectively for the texture of this primary problem. If you want these properties, it’s a fast and fairly enjoyable learn. —Michael Kurt