DC Young Animal 2019
Written by N.K. Jemisin
Illustrated by Jamal Campbell
Lettered by Deron Bennett
Rookie Green Lantern Sojourner “Jo” Mullein’s investigation of the first murder in 500 years hits a snag when the murderer is murdered. Whatever is going on, it’s something to do with Switchoff, a highly illegal genetic cocktail that restores dangerous feelings to the emotionless citizens of the City Enduring...
Until I had learned this wasn't in the mainstream my interest got piqued. The first issue was superb and I was hooked instantly. There is something unique to the way we see this story and it has this intelligence behind the writing that makes it such a standout stellar read. Usually we don't get such a cerebral mystery in comics any longer and even in Detective it isn't about his detective skills. So that we see Jo out of her element and out of her depth as she learns to adapt and change to her environment is sensationally well done.
The story & plot development that we see through the sequence of events unfolding and how the reader learns information is impeccable. It has to be pretty daunting to be stationed so far away from what is considered known space surrounded by species that haven't been explored before and that they have emotion dampening within the city itself. So yeah how we learn information is provided in a way that makes us feel as if we're learning alongside Jo. The character development is pretty amazing to witness. We know Jo is a human which comes with all the emotional trappings we ourselves experience. So to meet these emotionally neutered folks as well as who is on this Switchoff proves to be immensely interesting. The pacing is perfect and how it takes us through the pages and reveals the twists and turns to the story thus creating the ebb & flow for the book is great.
The way that this is being structured and how the book itself feels to the reader has this immeasurable factor to it that just excites, engages and entices the reader to think. How we see the events and how our minds work to grasp the meanings and significance of them is exactly how a writer wants to engage their readers'. From her discussion with Councillor Thorn to her coffee with Syzn what we glean and learn from these encounters continues to really flesh out this world beautifully.
Jamal's work on the interiors here is marvellous. The imagination and creativity involved in coming up with and maintaining brand new species is something he makes look so easy. The linework is gorgeous and how the varying weights are being utilised to bring out this attention to detail really is mindbogglingly stunning. Page 12's full page pin-up is a perfect example of his talent, skill and just how good his mind and strong and steady his hand is. That page alone is utterly gorgeous and I could spend hours looking at and the techniques utilised to bring it to life. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels show a masterful eye for storytelling. The way that backgrounds are being utilised and how they work within the composition in the panels bring us depth perception, scale and an overall size and scope to the book. The colour work is equally as marvellous. There are some beautiful muted colours as well bright and bold ones and everything in between. To see the hues and tones within the colours utilised to create shading, highlights and shadows shows such good understanding of how colour works.
While my initial instinct to roll my eyes at another human Green Lantern this has more than proved it's worth and weight in gold. Incredibly good, solid writing with dynamic characterisation with some truly stupendous interior artwork wrapped out them this is what comics should be like.