Farmhand #1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Zeke returns to the family farm, where his father grows plants that grow human body parts. A competitor tries to steal from the farm using a kid. Things are not as up-and-up as they appear.When I first took a peek at this comic I figured it was going to be a new twist on a zombie story -- a twist that had me intrigued! What I was not expecting was for it to be much more of a science story. The farm is still a working farm, but it's also a tourist trap, which is used quite well to bring Zeke and his family (and us readers) up to speed. Jedidiah Jenkins was raised a farmer. Then, he had a vision that led him to create a new type of human stem cell, and hybridizing it with plant DNA allowed him to grow human body parts. It's a story revolving around bioengineering and espionage as others try to steal it! And family! While it's not what I was expecting, I'm definitely excited to read more. The concept is fascinating, and I love the humor infused throughout -- from the signs on the walls, to the theme park nature of the farm, and even the dark humor of how Jed reacts to a kid hired to steal from him. I also love the characters; the writing really captures them as individuals, and the right age and life experience. I love that the main characters (the Jenkins, a farming family) are black and that Zeke's own family are mixed. The coloring does an excellent job with the different skin tones, as well as in general and with the plant-body part things. The art itself is fantastic! It's expressive with really strong character designs and an immense attention to detail! Even with all the humor, this first issue lets us know in no uncertain terms that it's also a dark and horrifying story. The nightmare scene that opens the issue definitely sets the tone. And the scene that provides the cliffhanger is intense in a way that adds realism. Plus, we get to see a transplant, and it, like many things, is far from typical, which makes the read even more creepy! Written: July 7, 2018
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