Descender #1, the new sci-fi comic by Jeff Lemire (Trillium) and Dustin Nguyen (Batman Beyond 2.0), was released today. It’s set in the distant future and follows a young boy android named Tim-21, who has awakened after 10 years to discover some unsettling things about his kind, and a down-on-his-luck robotics expert (you know the type) who has been tasked with unraveling the mystery surrounding this newly reactivated robot.
So, how is it? Read more after the jump.
In short, it rocks pretty hard.
Jeff Lemire is a talented writer. He took DC’s ailing Green Arrow New 52 reboot and turned it into a must-read series. He’s also one of the writers behind DC’s sprawling Future’s End epic. Now free from his exclusive contract with the company, he's spreading his wings with this new creator-owned titled, as well as following in the massive footsteps of Matt Fraction on All-New Hawkeye over at Marvel. He’s cited influences on this book ranging from Akira to Kubrick. It’s interesting that he hasn’t mentioned “Blade Runner,” because this definitely has a tone of that as well.
It also reminded me a bit of the more recent Battlestar Galactica. It’s set in a society – that includes humans who have long-since left Earth and colonized spaced – that is still feeling the effects of a devastating war with highly advanced robots. Sound familiar?
On the art is Dustin Nguyen. Nguyen never fails to disappoint, but his work on this title might be a career high. Every page is beautifully laid out, illustrated, and painted over with watercolors. The result is a science fiction story that has an ethereal, fantasy glow about it, even more so than Saga. But Nguyen is able to modulate this effect when he needs to. The gutters of the once-prosperous Niyata, “the hub world,” are drab and monochromatic. It looks almost muddy. This contrasts wonderfully with the crisp, shiny interiors of the more posh areas of this universe, like UGC Captain Telsa’s ship, which looks like an Apple Store.
As for the story, I’m hooked. It’s an interesting meditation on what we, being humans, do with things we no longer have any use for, or feel threatened by. It’s simultaneously a commentary on the waste associated with planned obsolescence and the stagnation that comes when a society suppresses what economist Joseph Schumpeter called “creative destruction” (yay, college!). There is huge amount of world-building done in the book’s 36 pages, and when you reach the back cover (or rating screen if your reading on Comixology) you will want to immediately flip back through the book to soak up every detail.
I can’t wait to see where this goes.
I've been looking for some titles to add to my reading pile (not that I don't already have enough oranything). I'll definitely give this a look.
ReplyDeleteI really like the theme of this comic! And the pictures of the main character are sooooo lovely!!! Thanks for recommending!
ReplyDeleteDustin Nguyen is really talented. Social media is really great, because I can follow people like him on Instagram and they're constantly posting work-in-progress illustrations and paintings. It's so cool!
DeleteAs I've possibly stated in a previous comment, I've never read a comic (unless you include "Mutts" from the Sunday paper), but your suggestions are really piquing my interest. Even just in these pictures, there is so much emotion and connection. I've always thought comic books were either funny or violent, with not much variation between plots. You've proved me wrong just with this description! My only question: How do I go about finding comic books? Online? In stores? What's the process?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, there are no comic book shops here in Fulton. I'm sure you could find at least one in Columbia, though. I have a tablet, so I read all mine digitally these days. If you go to www.comixology.com you can purchase digital comics published by any of the big companies (Marvel, DC, Image, etc.), as well as many independently released titles. It's pretty great. If you have a tablet you can download the app, which is fantastic, otherwise you can view them right there on the website.
DeleteAlso, Mutts totally counts.