by Tiff Douglas
The stage is set for a tale of discovery and mystery, with an enthusiastic audience waiting for something familiar to carry them through the journey, but the setting has changed and now they are falling away from their silver screens and into the pages of vivid colour. Tall tales of mistaken identity, shocking visions of violence and terror, all pulled together by the intricacies of graphic storytelling that can only be found….
In the Twilight Zone.
J. Michael. Straczynski, I don’t really believe that you need to say more than that. He’s the man that gave us some of the best that Marvel has to offer and has written for some kick ass Sci-fi television shows and is absolutely a comic book legend. First tackling The Twilight Zone back in 1992, he’s jumped in with Dynamite publishing to give it another go. Teaming up with Guiu Vilanova, who previously illustrated Dark Shadows and Raise the Dead 2, he’s attempting to bring a whole new audience into the twisted world of The Twilight Zone, one moral enigma at a time.
The stage is set for a tale of discovery and mystery, with an enthusiastic audience waiting for something familiar to carry them through the journey, but the setting has changed and now they are falling away from their silver screens and into the pages of vivid colour. Tall tales of mistaken identity, shocking visions of violence and terror, all pulled together by the intricacies of graphic storytelling that can only be found….
In the Twilight Zone.
J. Michael. Straczynski, I don’t really believe that you need to say more than that. He’s the man that gave us some of the best that Marvel has to offer and has written for some kick ass Sci-fi television shows and is absolutely a comic book legend. First tackling The Twilight Zone back in 1992, he’s jumped in with Dynamite publishing to give it another go. Teaming up with Guiu Vilanova, who previously illustrated Dark Shadows and Raise the Dead 2, he’s attempting to bring a whole new audience into the twisted world of The Twilight Zone, one moral enigma at a time.
Starting from #1, I was already impressed by the writer’s ability to make the comic feel like the show. Starting off with narration that introduces the themes of the story and suggests that you’re about to meet someone who is either already stuck in the “twilight zone” or soon will be. We are introduced to Trevor Richmond, a completely loathsome character who has embezzled a ton of money from his company and is very close to being found out. Terrified of losing his freedom and his money, he forsakes his partner, his workplace and his family and enlists the help of a mysterious company that offers him a chance to disappear and never face any consequences. It isn’t until after he’s in too deep that he realizes that there is always a catch.
My favourite episodes of The Twilight Zone were always the ones where someone finally gets what they deserve. These people are completely oblivious to their own narcissism and the fact that they are the protagonists of the story makes for fascinating viewing, or in this case reading. The story (so far) unfolds slowly, giving you a little pieces of information scattered within the drama unfolding. Straczynski writes this comic like a TV pro and the dialogue is believable and concise whilst telling a very complex story. The art work is basic at times but the washed out water colours used in some of the panels really suit the tone of the comic, almost making it appear like a moving painting, reminiscent of another anthology Televisions show, The Night Gallery.
Classic art and eerie tales mix well in a comic that has a lot of potential. Not just another independent filler title, this has legs and I see them going to extraordinary places.
Stay tuned.
My favourite episodes of The Twilight Zone were always the ones where someone finally gets what they deserve. These people are completely oblivious to their own narcissism and the fact that they are the protagonists of the story makes for fascinating viewing, or in this case reading. The story (so far) unfolds slowly, giving you a little pieces of information scattered within the drama unfolding. Straczynski writes this comic like a TV pro and the dialogue is believable and concise whilst telling a very complex story. The art work is basic at times but the washed out water colours used in some of the panels really suit the tone of the comic, almost making it appear like a moving painting, reminiscent of another anthology Televisions show, The Night Gallery.
Classic art and eerie tales mix well in a comic that has a lot of potential. Not just another independent filler title, this has legs and I see them going to extraordinary places.
Stay tuned.
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