It's August and shit still sucks. Time to distract myself yet again with another comic read. BACKGROUND:
This is another blind read for me, as I've never heard of this comic. THE WRITING: Erik is a 12-year-old boy who's run away from home for ressons that are unclear. When he wakes up after falling asleep under a rock, he finds that he is no longer in our world, but in a strange dimension filled with fantastical creatures. This world is unfortunately not as idyllic as I make it sound, as it is ruled by an evil dragon thing named Baalikar, who rules with an iron fist and sends his lieutenant Doctor Once to perform wicked experiments on the inhabitants and pit them against each other in gladitorial combat. Right off the bat, there's a lot going on, and the potential for world-building is sky-high. Erik immediately encounters the antagonists and discovers the awful status quo, meets various characters who seem friendly, and learns that this world is a hodgepodge of other worlds. I found myself rather intrigued, especially by the fact that this place appears to have geographical similarities to Manhattan, and the fact that Erik appears to be the only human here. As a character, Erik himself is quite interesting. The exact circumstances behind why he runs away from home are not revealed, but it is made clear that he feels strongly about doing it. He also loses most of his memory from his old life once he enters this new world, leaving all of that to remain a mystery for thr time being. His internal dialogue reveals a level of maturity that isn't usually common for kids his age, as he ruminates about living and learning, making decisions, and more depending on the situation he finds himself in. I found myself rooting for the kid largely because of this; he's not afraid to acknowledge his flaws, he shows compassion towards these people he's only just met, and displays courage and even intelligence in dangerous situations. A lot of the things he says are surprisingly profound, too, which was not I epxected going into something that was marketed as an all-ages book. Though Erik is the character focused on the most, a bit of time is spent to establish a few others. Doctor Once is immediately built as a cruel scientist with very little regard for the well-being of others. Morgan and Thea, two warriors that Erik meets early on, are given distinct personalities, and it seems they're being built as his long-term allies. Later on, Erik meets Raj Nod, king of the Groundlings, and the backstory of their people is interesting (and even expands upon the world-building a little bit). The book is unfortunately a little short to learn a whole lot about these other characters, but I hope later volumes expand upon them. While it's probably inevitable that Erik and Baalikar will end up being the main conflict, the story doesn't rush itself and lets Erik get his bearings in this new world. The book focuses more on having Erik learn what's going on (along with the reader) and be more concerned about his immediate survival. Even so, the story gives Erik a few significant opportunities to forge some potential alliances, establish a conflict between him and Doctor Once, and slowly build up to the notion that he may become the hero this realm needs. THE ART: A lot of the art has this "rough sketch" texture to it, and I mean that in a good way. This quality combined with the darker tones and shading, as well as a decent level of detail give the world a somewhat gritty vibe, which contrasts the inherently fantastical setting but complements the slightly serious plot. The character designs really shine here, and there's plenty to like in that department. Baalikar looks absolutely imposing (and badass), Morgan looks like a cool take on an aquatic warrior race, Thea has a design that highlights her status as royalty (and has cool wings), and Doctor Once and his minions look fiendish and grotesque. All these unique-looking characters ironically help make Erik stand out, as he just looks like a regular human wearing street clothes. The design of the locations are pretty interesting as well, as it really highlights the "patchwork" nature of this strange world. The few areas you get to see are overrun by forests and rock formations, but it is clear that elements of Manhattan still remain, as skyscrapers like the Empire State Building are still present, towering over the place. The arena where most of the fighting happens appears to be based on Central Park, and the Groundling kingdom feels like a steampunk version of Grand Central Station. This is only the first volume, but I'm already impressed with what I see both in terms of character design and environment design, and I'm sure it's expanded upon in later volumes. VERDICT: The Only Living Boy has a lot going for it: it features a young, but surprisingly well-rounded protagonist in Erik, a strange, mysterious world with a lot of potential for world-building, and introduces characters with inspired designs. The story is still in its early phases, with few characters other than Erik getting screen time, and the central conflict not fully established, but it seems evident that the creators are building up to this slowly. I enjoyed what I read here, and if I get the chance, I will gladly read the later volumes of this comic. Here's The Only Living Boy on Comixology: https://m.comixology.com/The-Only-Living-Boy-Vol-1-Prisoner-of-the-Patchwork-Planet/digital-comic/337771?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L21vYmlsZS9zbGlkZXJMaXN0L2l0ZW1TbGlkZXI - end -
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June 2024
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