@evilbutters
Despite my love for Edgar Wright’s film adaptation of Scott Pilgrim vs the World, I had never read anything by Bryan Lee O’Malley before Seconds. The layout of each page is beautiful and easy on the eyes with thick white borders and each panel exploding in vibrant color. The artwork may be considered cartoony to some with thick, black outlines and every character almost having this chibi anime kind of appearance to them, but once you start reading Seconds you will not want to put it down.
The story seems so simple at first; a chef feels like she’s outgrown her current lifestyle but can’t progress in life because everything seems to be holding her back. The truth is that Seconds is a tale you will absolutely relate to, especially if you’re in your twenties or thirties. Seconds basically has time travel rules in its storyline; you can’t alter the past without it heavily affecting your future. However there is this supernatural quality to the story that allows unpredictability to take precedence over foreseeing how everything will conclude.
Seconds is a graphic novel overflowing with hilarious humor, gorgeous artwork, a fun and unique storyline that constantly breaks the fourth wall, and relatable characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This is a must read for anyone who has ever dreamt of having a better life for him or herself.
This week marks the 2-year celebration of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Seconds. You can buy the graphic novel right here.
Arthur C. Clarke once said “any advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”… Or something like that, at least. In any case, “something like that” is a perfect summation for Aspen Revelations #1. There’s magic, technology, dragons and star gates that punch holes in the fabric of space and time like a hipster in skinny jeans. So without further ado, strap on your spurs and call Sergio Leone, because it’s time for the good, the bad and the ugly.
The good: Jordan Gunderson (The Four Points), Mark Roslan (Witchblade) and Peter Steigerwald (Cyber Force). These three artistic amigos create a rich and dynamic world, despite the post (or pre?) apocalyptic wasteland dictated by the script. Each character is a wonderfully crafted piece of eye candy that children should take from strangers without checking the bag for needles. Everyone fits in the environment, which becomes quite the character itself. Likewise, the sense of motion is far more captivating than the slow-mo intro to Baywatch, or even sitting on inflatable furniture in your dorm room, staring blankly at the lava lamp while your Hot Pocket microwaves.
The bad: Prologue and epilogue. Alpha and Omega. While each portion of this narrative does the job of setting the stage, it does so in a fashion more akin to a high school musical than Broadway blockbuster. Naturally, explanations are necessary without giving away too much of the story, yet everything here seemed more like a side effect warning for Cialis. We readers get a vague idea of what is happening and what is to come, though nothing more.
The ugly: Joshua Hale Fialkov (I, Vampire) and J.T. Krul (Batman Beyond Unlimited)’s script. Keeping in mind the assertions mentioned above, your Righteous Reverend has no bloody idea what in the seven hells of Westeros is going on in this book. It feels to me that the plot was F’d in the A by a big rubber D. Sorry to use harsh letters, but I read this story on four separate occasions and still couldn’t tell you what it’s about. There is not enough definition to give a sense of direction, let alone come back for a second episode to find out. If I do, the story would be read in images rather than words. 2/5 Pop-up Picture Bibles.
Aspen Universe: Revelations #1 will be at your local comic shop this Wednesday, July 13.