Tag: IDW Publishing

Review: Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1

Series: Dark Spaces: Wildfire
Author: Scott Snyder
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Ronda Pattison
Letterer: Andworld Design
Publisher: IDW
Released: July 20, 2022
Received: NetGalley

Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is the first issue in a new series by Scott Snyder and Hayden Sherman, so I had to give it a try! Set during the Arroyo Fire, this series covers a group of inmate firefighters – and the dangers (plus temptations) they will face alongside the smoke and ash.

Writing

Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is a solid start to the series. Right away, readers are pulled into the story. Granted, it would be challenging for a fire not to catch our attention. Combine that with our leading lady’s regrets, and it becomes impossible to look away from.

I’m thrilled to see Scott Snyder experimenting with different stories. Obviously, Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is only one of several projects he’s currently working on, but it was enough to get me curious.

Much of this first issue is spent setting the scene. We have the in-media res intro, which then morphs into a brief overview of the job (and the risks), followed by some time spent getting to know the main characters. It’s very well-balanced, setting the series off on the right foot.

From here on out, it’ll be much easier to care about the characters and the situation they are likely about to get themselves into.

Artwork

Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 has some brilliant artwork to complement such an intense story. Actually, I’m fairly certain that the story wouldn’t be quite as intense without the help of the artists Hayden Sherman (pencils), Ronda Pattison (colors), and Andworld Design (letters).

The character designs are brilliant – they have that rougher quality but feel so very real. Combine that with the bold and bright colors, and you have the recipe for a story that is visually appealing – and memorable.

I’m always fond of seeing what letters will do with a series such as this, and Andworld Design did not disappoint. I love the subtlety and care shown in the placement and styles. It’s the little things that really make the lettering shine here.

Conclusion

All things said and done; I think Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is a really solid start to this series. It’s already making me a bit sad that there will only be four more issues following this one. I could have gotten used to a whole lot more of this!

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Review: Earthdivers #1

Author: Stephen Graham Jones
Artist: Davide Giangelice
Colorist: Joana LaFuente
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: IDW
Released: October 5, 2022
Received: NetGalley

Earthdivers #1 is the start of a brand new series by IDW. It’s written by Stephen Graham Jones – one of the best horror authors around. So you just know this series will hit you right in the feels and then some.

The series begins in the year 2112, with the world in ruins. As it turns out, the scientists may have been right when they warned us about those rising oceans. Whoops. One group of people may have a solution to everything gone wrong – they just have to go back in time and kill Christopher Columbus.

Writing

What would it be if you could go back in time to right one wrong? Would you erase a horrible person from the earth or find a different solution? Earthdivers #1 explores this core concept, with Stephen Graham Jones pointing fingers directly at the one and only Christopher Columbus as the root of many problems.

When you think about the butterfly effect, it’s easy to see how one change such as this would drastically change how our history books were written. Of course, anybody that’s spent anytime reading time travel fiction knows just how dangerous such a venture would be.

Much of the first issue is spent bouncing back and forth between two points in time. 2112 and 1492. It doesn’t take long for the story to get quite dark, but that was probably to be expected (think about that point in history – it won’t take long to get there).

Stephen Graham Jones did a brilliant job setting the scene in this issue, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. Simultaneously, I’m dreading it. I’ve already become attached to the main group in this story, and I’m worried about how it will go from here…

Artwork

Wow. If I thought the writing of Earthdivers #1 was terrific, I was blown away by the artwork inside. Davide Giangelice (pencils), Joana LaFuente (colors), and Steve Wands (letters) are a dream team! Seriously, their work enhanced the impact of this story tenfold.

In particular, I enjoyed the character design in this issue. Each character had so much personality, even at a glance. Likewise, they did an excellent job of making it easy to tell each character apart, including the series’ future antagonist (presumably).

The colors complement these darker tones, and I look forward to seeing how they adapt and progress as time goes on. I will have to pick up the full volume of Earthdivers because I need more.

Conclusion

Earthdivers #1 is an intense start to the series. It grabs readers and refuses to let go, pulling us down the science fiction rabbit hole that is time travel. I know things will likely get worse before they get better, but I am here for it.

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Review: Voices That Count Anthology

Authors: Julia Otero, Lola Garcia, Diana Lopez Varela, Estefania Molina, Eva Amaral, Leticia Dolera, Sandra Sabates, Almudena Grandes, Patricia Campos
Artists: Ada Diez, Agustina Guerrero, Akira Pantsu, Ana Orcina, Maria Hesse, Raquel Riba Rossy, Sandra Cardona, Sara Herranz, Sara Soler
Translator: Diego Jourdan Pereira
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Released: June 14, 2022
Received: NetGalley

Voices That Count is a graphic novel anthology full of stories that take a closer look at our world as it stands. More accurately, it portrays tales of different women all over the world. It was initially written in Spanish but was recently (ish) translated, letting a more comprehensive range of readers give it a try. I was really excited when I heard that, as Voices That Count had been on my radar for a while now.

This anthology has nine stories, including some that hit close to home! I’m sure that was the intention; how could it not be? I highly recommend that readers try this one, as some crucial messages are woven into the stories.

Julio by Julia Otero and Ada Diez

Julio is very much an homage from daughter to father, and it is very sweet. It certainly rang a bell for this reader. On a different note, I really enjoyed the art style.

24 Hours by Lola Garcia and Agustina Guerrero

Ouch, 24 Hours hits hard. It imagines what the world would be like if gender norms were swapped. The simple black and white color palette enhance this image, making it feel like a classic TV show.

The Bug by Diana Lopez Varela and Akira Pantsu

The Bug is going to be a hard one for certain readers to get through. If you have or are currently struggling with an eating disorder, you might want to pass on this one. That being said, it did a great job portraying what was happening inside somebody’s head during this time.

Empowered by Estefania Molina and Ana Orcina

Empowered takes a closer look at why women do and don’t speak up, especially in a professional setting. It’s a great conversation starter (no pun intended) on this subject.

Loneliness by Eva Amaral and Maria Hesse

Loneliness is a powerful poem with creative imagery to help support the message. I really enjoyed this one!

Sexier by Leticia Dolera and Raquel Riba Rossy

Sexier is an excerpt from Biting the Apple. It looks at how women’s bodies are policed, especially in certain careers. They’re expected to meet these insane standards or risk losing out. I will have to make a point of reading the rest of Biting the Apple.

Turtle Steps by Sandra Sabates and Sandra Cardona

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That certainly feels to be the case in Turtle Steps. The story is compelling, but the artwork really brings it home! This is probably my favorite from the collection.

Over a Banana Skirt by Almudena Grandes and Sara Herranz

Over a Banana Skirt is a surprisingly introspective piece, delving into history, societal expectations, and pretty much a hundred other things. It’s a great read, especially if you’re looking for something that’ll make you stop and think.

Mzungu by Patricia Campos and Sara Soler

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about how sports can help societies as a whole – it can encourage education and equality, among many other important concerns. Mzungu seems to encapsulate all of that reading I’ve been doing, putting it into something both deeply personal and approachable.

Thanks to IDW Publishing and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Review: Euthanauts #1

Euthanauts #1

Euthanauts #1
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Rating: 4 Star

Euthanauts is a new and interesting series by IDW Publishing. The title is both obscure and evocative, depending on how much you know about the series itself. It revolves around death, much like the characters within.

That sounds pretty morbid, and I guess in a certain sense it is. But there are many that don’t consider death to be the end of the journey, but rather another part of it. That’s certainly the case for this series. Picture death as if you were jumping out into space – there’s a whole lot of unknown, dark and black space out there, right? Well, that’s actually a fairly accurate description for how much we know about death.

Thalia Rosewood (I love her name) is a woman that’s always been obsessed with death. Not in the too terrified to live sort of way, more like she’s always been distracted by the notion of it. So naturally when she comes across a woman who is clearly dying of cancer, she can’t help but feel herself drawn to her. She finds herself rudely staring at the woman, but she can’t help it.

Who would have thought that this encounter would change everything for the both of them? Okay, maybe the dying woman, Mercy, had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen, but that’s a whole new story now, isn’t it?

This was an interesting start to such a cerebral tale. I don’t feel like I’ve seen enough of it to truly pass judgment on it, but so far I’ve liked what I’ve seen. I’m looking forward to the release of the next issue, if nothing else than to sate my curiosity for what is going on.

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