COMIC BOOK REVIEW: MEMETIC #1

This week, along with a hefty stack of all the other comics I’m reading, I picked up Memetic #1 from Boom! Studios. I remember reading about and the premise of a weaponized meme that destroy civilisation and bring about the apocalypse as pretty interesting. Actually a suck for apocalypstic story. That was the whole reason I saw Mel Gibsons ‘Apocalypto’, which was a great movie and you should check it out. Memetric does well at building spense and intrigue. Only a 3 part mini series so establishing world, character and atmosphere is critical special in the first few pages of a comic book. The visual sell that before moment of everyday life. With our protagonist Aaron following an argument with his boyfriend,all done via texts or facebook messenger. Aaron finds unable able to sleep so he starts scrolling through Raddit (That world version of Reddit) in his room rather than going to sleep. Not long into Aaron internet procrastinating that he comes across a picture of a sloth, smiling and giving a thumbs up surrounded by trippy circles and colours. A Raddit post author insists that the image makes them “feel amazing”. Due to Aaron all too human mutant ability to distinguish colour (other than blue). Think that Aaron having a hearing aid will play an important part of the story.

 As the day progresses all of his friends, and soon the entire world becomes infatuated with the ‘Good Times Sloth’, with everyone reporting euphoria and a general feeling of happiness.to the point where many as it a sign from god. Really like how the sloth is taking of the background of the whole book. From giant TV to community billboards. You start not being able to unsee the it. Only those who can’t see the picture, like Marcus, the blind former head of US Military Intelligence, or unique cases like Aaron aren’t infatuated. Artist Eryk Donovan does a excellent job of setting up the atmosphere of uncertainty and mystery. He captures the invisible thread of information following on top our world with bold text message blocks. Give a sense of movement having the Sloth showing up everywhere not just in the background. Show how the image has affected the person.Either by having the image set in the character eyes like it was burned in, to just being happy/crazy by thrusting the image on everything like the crazy cat lady from the simpson. 

All it excellent service to Writer James Tynion IV. The character are relatable and fauld to begin with. Then in a few short pages there breakdown into crazed killers. If his point was to ponder if a meme spread destruction worldwide would it be very successfully. Than I would answer yes it would.Memetic delivers it’s first issue in style, with a truly gripping and unique storyline brought to life with stylish visuals which help subtly illustrate the direction of the plot, this series is a must buy, departing from the traditional superhero genre commonly associated with comics to something a little more intriguing and unique.









 4 out of 5 ‘Good Times Sloth’

I'll Give It My All...Tomorrow

 I picked up I’ll Give It My All….Tomorrow at my local library. This crudely drawn manga glistened among the highly polished titles asking me to pick it up. It easily had the most uninspiring cover design I’ve seen. I remember commenting to myself, “I can draw better than that” but the title was the real reason I picked it up.

Once I sat down I was deeply touched and involved in the life of Shizuo. A middle-aged man who ditch his unfulfilling job as a soulless office worker to pursue his dreams of becoming a manga artist,no matter how impossible they may seem. Although Shizuo has declared to the world his intention in life, he still has to battle himself. Rather than work, he plays video game and tends to vegetate at home, which annoys his father. 

His daughter, friends and work college accepts him for what he is. Just a man who does what he has to, to pursue his goal of getting a manga published. Its a hard uphill battle for Shizuo as he faces rejection again and again and yet, he never gives up.

Despite the fact that he lacks charisma, good looks, talent, or even common sense at times, people are drawn to him because of his kind heart and intent to live his life to the fullest.  At times the story can dwell too much on the "loser" aspect of the and less on the "lovable." Eventually the these aspects become more balanced. We get to root for Shizuo, hoping that this perpetual underdog will get at least one small chance to see his dreams come true.  

Shizuo journey really hit especially close to home for me. Although I might not be 40 yet, I’ve only just started my journey to happiness. I still struggle with my own personal demons, specially about my skills and talents . I'll Give It My All...Tomorrow has taught me some important little lessons about how beautiful the bonds between people can be and believing in yourself. 





4.5 out 5  persistence waffles of dreams.  
 

The Witching Hour

“The Witching Hour” is a comic anthology that celebrates the supernatural with nine tales which are written and illustrated by some of the biggest names in comics.

The cover, done by the phenomenally talented Jenny Frisson, draws your attention with the promises of nine tales of mystical horror. Instead we’re given nine tales of monsters both magical and mundane. I loved how each writer encapsulated something different. The range of stories they build go from using monsters to showing that the most horrifying thing is sometimes the imagination which lies within ourselves.

Often with anthologies there are noticeable peaks and valleys in the quality of writing or art. Although I found Vertigo's The Witching Hour consistent most of the way through, I did find the most exciting stories happened towards the beginning of the book. It is a shame they didn't reorganize the stories better so that it maintained its pacing which would’ve helped keep my interest to the end. There’s nothing wrong with the last few tales, but it just felt like they needed more time to develop. On that note, I am going to discuss a few of my personal faviorite stories from “The Witching Hour”.

"Rise" by Mariah Huehner and Tula Lotay is a straightforward tale of vengeance and possession. It follows the story of an unlucky backpacker who is possessed by an evil spirit. The story succeeds beautifully on the strength of the narrator's unique take of the situation they’re in. It’s Lotay's delicate lines and layers of ethereal colors in the art that imbue a kind of melancholy to the wry story which I found very moving until the unfortunate conclusion.





"Birdie" by Lauren Beukes and Gerhard Human takes us on a journey with a young witch in Capetown. The witch has the ability to see events from the past via objects which she receives from birds. I enjoyed the darker theme that was presented of real monsters hiding beneath familiar faces.

"This Witch's Work" by Annie Mok and Emily Carroll was so visually emotional. I required a few read throughs to fully appreciate the story. It deals with the heavy subject of emotional abuse.

"Legs" by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Ming Doyle was my favorite of the anthology's stories. It has just has the right amount of elements to make a memorable horror story in a few short pages. It wonderful exploits a common phobia to great effect and even has a surprise twist that's delightful disgusting.

"Little Witch" by Ales Kot and Morgan Jeske, casts a dreamy spell-like atmosphere for a moody, sentimental story about memory and family. This is one of the few tales that focus on a more direct message of love, loss and depression. These are the themes that our titular narrator struggles with. Jeske's panel composition and contrasting warm and cool colours builds emotional tension from the beginning till the end.

Those are a few on my favorite tales from the “The Witching Hour” anthology. I highly recommend picking this wonderful anthology up to experience some truly unique stories this Halloween season.

4 personalities out of 5 personalities from a multiple-personality afflicted pumpkin.