Boom! Studios 2018
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Illustrated by Flaviano
Coloured by Miquel Muerto
Lettered by Jim Campbell
In the aftermath of a nuclear first strike that has left the East Coast uninhabitable, five teenagers are being sent west, away from the wreckage that was once their home. Halfway through the Oklahoma Dust Bowl, the shuttle that promised safety has broken down, stranding them in the middle of nowhere with only one another to count on. Their only hope seems to be a town just on the edge of the horizon, but the closer they get the stranger things become. If they want to survive, they will have to learn to trust one another—and with society crumbling around them, trust does not come easily.
Alright so this is a helluva good week for series debuts and this one is a great example of why I say that. I mean the opening is ominous and shows a modified school bus travelling and when you sign the sign for what cities are ahead and their distance yeah you think hunh okay. Then as we keep reading the meaning actually becomes more clear to us. Still the opening is a great thing because it gives us a chance to listen to the recording on the bus talking about the dangers they could face. Not to mention it also gives us an opportunity to those all important first impressions of those on the bus.
The way that this is structured is fantastic and it feels smooth like black ice on the highway. So naturally there is a catalyst that happens and it sets these unsuspecting souls on a journey of not only self-discovery but in what it’s going to take to learn to trust those that surround you when you know nothing about them. It almost feels like it advocates getting off modern technology and doing things face to face with people instead. I am a fan of that as when I leave the house I have no connection to the web and I actually converse with people, look them in the eyes and make connections.
The characterisation here is extremely nice to see. With all these kids who are supposed to be relocated away from the danger zone, who also as it happens have no parents the time spent on each individual is perfectly done. It really is just enough to wet the appetite and leave us wanting more and it allows for a few to actually find the strength and courage to take something of a leadership role on amidst the utter madness and chaos that occurs around them.
The interiors here are very well done. Flaviano has this way of bringing emotion and feelings to the characters and how we see them that is wonderful. The eyes are the gateway to the soul right and that’s actually very present here and I like to gauge an artists ability by how they render faces because all else I can forgive but faces that’s where the real emotion comes from. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows off a very solid eye for storytelling. I like the attention to detail and that clockwork bird that suddenly appears, every time you are are near, and how we see the backgrounds being utilised really elevate how we see this.
So far this has an almost post apocalyptic feel to it though not quite as dire as the usual scenario that we see. Then they’ve decided to add yet another aspect to the story that I wasn’t expecting. I mean let’s face it stranded in the middle of nowhere in what’s considered a hot zone having to fend for themselves against ravagers and the like would’ve been enough for me. However this new twist as it happens I realised I couldn’t live without so for that to have happened was a complete wow factor.
With a dynamite premise and amazing execution this is that book that you read and think how the heck did have I lived without this till now?