Sleepless #1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 6 Sleepless #1 has four short stories in, all of which have a twist. I like the cover, which shows a sleeping woman levitating or being pulled up feet first. However, I'm not sure why she's holding onto the bed with her hands if she's asleep (as her closed eyes and peaceful face suggest)."Empty" is a zombie story I've seen many times before. A man and woman fall in love and one becomes a zombie. While it's not original, it is well done and enjoyable. I like the presentation and how he puts his love out of her misery only to find he can't do the same for himself. The art is well done. I very much appreciate the panel showing him going up the stairs (looking down on him); I just wish it conveyed speed and motion a bit more. There is a continuity issue when he goes from holding the gun in his right hand for several panels to suddenly shooting the gun with his left hand. I'm also not buying that he can hit all these zombies with head shots while drunk (I would be hard pressed to buy it if he wasn't drunk). Good use of color, especially in the beginning, to differentiate between past and present and mood. Overall, a good story to start things off. This book says that it takes some inspiration for the style and twists from The Twilight Zone. "Three Years," a post-apocalypse story, fits that the most, if I am understanding the last panel correctly. Some of the panels look like they used photographs of someone in a plaid shirt, jeans, and boots and then changed out the head, hands, and background with hand-drawn art. Sometimes, like in the truck, it's seamless, but othertimes, like getting out of the truck and walking in, it's very obvious. Looking close, I can see other things have this same picture integration, but they are fairly well blended. I wish it was all done that well. I like the messy-watercolor look to the rest of it; it works for the setting and character. "Artificial Unintelligence" is an alien abduction story that has a twist I've not seen done before. While the redneck aspect is a bit grueling to sit through, it is worth it when the twist hits. I applaud the creativity for taking the normal alien abduction twist a step further. Definitely something that could work in The Twilight Zone. The art is rather cartoony, including some slapstick humor. It's well done, but not something I would want to read for a whole comic or series. I have mixed feelings about "A Mother's Devotion." It tries to combine and anti-bully / stand-up-for-yourself message with a twist befitting the rest of this comic, but the two cancel each other out. The mom's actions actually encourage her son to continue getting bullied. Now, if he were shown to be the one doing the "getting" at the end, rather than his mom, it would fit better. The art is bright and colorful, looking like a cartoon in a good way. I just wish the message and story weren't at odds with each other. I enjoyed reading Sleepless #1 enough to want to check out #2. However, the $5.99 price tag is a bit prohibitive as I didn't enjoy it that much. It's also not a graphic novel; these stories are short. Written: April 15, 2013
|
|
|
Home |
Features |
Columns |
Culture Vultures |
Report Card
Indicia | Contact | Archives © Sequential Tart, 1998 – 2021 |
