Boom! Studios 2018
Written by Max Bemis
Illustrated by Michael Dialynas
Lettered by Colin Bell
There is something about this book that catches the reader off-guard. Max has an incredible mind and gets to showcase his talent, skill and ability here beautifully. With his bands and music we see one side of him but this is that opportunity to express himself in other ways as well and I personally love reading his stuff. From Moon Knight to this one he is currently writing two of my favourite books on the market. The range and versatility in the work is sensational and this all-ages offering well it has that special place because not only of the subject matter but where the two stars are in their life. The onset of Puberty, the hormones and beginning of true individuality are beginning to emerge and if you kids you’ll understand this stage, if you don’t then you should remember yourself at this age and either way it’s fun and relatable to.
We left off with Lucy telling Welsey that they had the same dream. We saw that for ourselves which was fun and rather unexpected. I like that we pick where things left off the sense of real time continuity is nice to see. The way Max is structuring this story is superb and there is natural ebb & flow to the book so we feel more like guests than passengers in the story. I remember being that awkward age, being too smart for my own good and unable to ask for help, whether that was pride or stubbornness I don’t know but my growing made me connect with Lucy here and that scene with her mother. Oh my goodness this is just as awkward as I would think a sex talk would be.
Now if these two could just get along, understand each other and compromise things would go a whole lot more smoothly but then without this conflict half the story would disappear. Still the way it is now with this whole I’m the parent your the child routine allows for anger and resentment to fly from both of them and that’s when secrets get spilled. Heat of the moment stuff that is how a lot of information gets spilled and it doesn’t matter who you are we’ve all experienced it. On the flip side with Welsey knowing the truth about their dreams and the connection they have his desire to hurry up and do it again well I like that kind of spunk.
Michael has done some fabulous work and well The Woods alone phew and this series has that charm needed in both the type of story, a sci-fi coming of age, we see along with that whole all-ages aspect. It’s delightful, warm and comforting while still managing some nice attention to detail and be expressive. The utilisation of the page layouts and how we see the angles and perspective in the panels shows a strong solid eye for storytelling. Also that Lucy doesn’t see that she is the daughter here is amazing to me--”dream world version” it’s some incredibly fun and creative work. The different genres and game settings we get to see played with here is superbly done and really makes me want to see more.
I am thoroughly enjoying the story, the characterisation and how we see the kids trying to come into their own through the actions of the parents. Who doesn’t entertain the idea of getting lost in a dream where that world isn’t imaginary but real and every night you go some place new and different and get to be someone new and different each time. It sounds like a dream come true really although if it seems too good to be true it usually is. So where’s the downside here? We will see because mum is on her case and this is new territory so I eagerly await next month when this continues.