The Field on the Edge of the Woods Book 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 A man wakes up in a dark forest. Surrounded and chased by demonic figures in the shadows he flees, listening to a mysterious voice, and enters a vast field. There, in the field, is a mighty Grim Reaper who kills and chases off the imp-like creatures. In return, he hands the man (a film and TV producer) a screenplay telling the story of how he became the way he is (a history of field and woods as well). The Riders, the Dark Nasties, and the Numbered are battling over a strange bundle that holds the fate of all. Will a deal be struck or will blood cover the land?I love it! I am so hooked! I want book two now! Book one brings us wholly into the overall story as well as the strange tale the Grim Reaper weaves. By the last page I've been so enthralled by each little twist and development that I practically scream with frustration at being left to wait while the creators finish up book two. The story starts out a little slow and weird. There's creepiness and humor as the old man tries to escape the dark creatures of the forest. But when he starts reciting the Lord's Prayer with his own little exclamations and verbiage I almost lost interest. It came across as forced and insincere. The pacing was a little off. His little "changes" to the prayer would have come across better to have them as sound-effects or asides to himself or his true thoughts while his mouth recites within the comic itself like thought balloons. Instead they are made part of what he says in the lines between panels. The only other thing that kind of let me down is the Reaper. When he first appears he seems huge and frightening and terrifyingly strong with a far-reaching scythe. Then, we see him up close and he's practically a midget causing him to lose much of his impressiveness and almost make him a bit humorous. I'm hopeful that this little history of his will explain how he went from tall, dashing warrior to shrunken Reaper in more than just "he turned into Death". That being said, I really like the original take on the whole "good vs. evil" idea. I'm intrigued by all three groups. The Riders seem a bit typical: brawny, tall, bad-ass fighters with steeds and swords, and cocky self-righteous attitudes. The Dark Nasties are awesome. They are oddly modernized (with T-shirts with things like "Vote for Pedro" on them) and seem, as a group, to be drunk, ignorant, lazy, and nasty. However, they have some intelligence, drive, and fighting power, and the ability to frustrate their foes in many ways! I like them in the way that you like the bad guys who may not be the true bad guys. I love their fat, little imp-like designs and how each one is unique (unlike the Riders). The Numbered are the ones that kind of mix things up — almost stuck in like humans caught between yet trying to manipulate the battle between angels and demons. So far it's just the native-American-esque warrior girl (who is an awesome fighter), and a grubby, angst-filled hero-guy; an odd pairing but one that works. The Woman of the Woods is the interfering "neutral" power that can work to spice up any story, but here she's intriguing for many other reasons. The art is fantastic. I wish more artists would put this kind of effort into their work. The body mechanics and the way gravity and physical objects and beings act on one another is amazing and adds a true sense of realism to the whole thing — even in battles that are a bit beyond mere human abilities. Facial expressions and body movements bring characters to life. They don't rely on the eyes as much as other series — here the eyes are often closed or shadowed over, and you get the meaning from the other details and postures. It's quite impressive. I also really like the use of shadows in back- and foregrounds; it adds dimension, atmosphere, and framing in a way that fits the story. I'm also a fan of using different font for different groups, characters, etc when it's done well, and this does it well. Not everyone likes it, but it is an effective tool when used correctly. Even when there's a lot going on I know who's speaking and I get an idea of their feeling or emotion or vocal quality from the font used, and the font is consistent which is an important factor for making this work. Nicely done. The Field at the Edge of the Woods is a remarkable piece of storytelling. If you enjoy offbeat fairytales and/or good vs. evil stories you should definitely give this book a try. Excellent art is coupled with an interesting plot, creative twists, and humor for a read that will definitely leave you wanting more. Written: December 26, 2009
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