Overground Comics 2016
Written by G. Wassil
Illustrated by Dave Hamann
Coloured by Michael Birkhofer
Lettered by Troy Peteri
We all know how I feel about small press books and it seems lately more and more are popping up with really good, strong, interesting and well done books. The industry has grown by leaps and bounds and the quality of this book, and this company, cannot be ignored. I love the premise and the way we are introduced to this world. From a man finding a baby girl in a dumpster to seeing her in her teenage years well it makes you think.
We’ve seen kids around and think wow they were born bad. Not just acting out for attention or because of deeper issues but just bad kids who don’t seem to fit in, are violent or overly strange. As loathe as we are to admit it they do exist but what I love about this here is that Wassil comes up with an explanation for why they are this way. Well I see it as a reason it may or may not be but they are definitely worthy of someone’s attention.
Zoel is a young lady with an attitude, she’s also the one from the dumpster. I recognize the remorse in her words in order to placate the parents she’s with, I’m guessing adopted or foster. When that doesn’t work she’s herself and she’s a complicated young woman that’s for sure. She looks like the kind who acts out before finding herself but I have a feeling that as the story progresses we’ll see she’s a bad seed. Under the guise of being sent to boarding school she finds herself with a whole “freshmen” class.
There’s only one small thing that’s been left out and that’s exactly where this Academy is located. Seems to me this is a school for those habitual offenders, which ironically I would consider most kids today who can’t function normally in society since parents rights to punish their children were taken away. From all walks of life and some may be bad while others are more likely feeling alone and confused with no one to guide them and i’m sure the class will be whittled down some, if not then hello nurse this is going to be more interesting than I imagined.
Oh the whole concept here is utterly fascinating. You’ve got to read this to understand my attraction, which you’ll hopefully share, to the fact that unbeknownst to these kids their lives were predestined. I guess I want to know if fundamentally speaking there’s a little good in everyone or are some such lost causes they can be written off? The writing, characterization and what we are introduced to here has me instantly hooked in wanting to see how this is going to play out. While not introduced to a whole lot of the students we don’t need to be there’s a definite cast structure, like any high school, in play and friends and enemies in play and it should be fun to see how they have to deal with each other.
I’m also a digging the interiors here too. The individuality of each kid whether they have dialogue or not shines through. Also Zoel has this look that i’m drawn to and as it seems she’s the focus that’s a good thing. The way Dave has this story flow through pages and panels is fantastic and showcases real talent.
Step away from the ordinary and help yourself to something fun, different and full of potential.