Long before comic books existed, poetry was (and always will be) a way to creatively express feelings and tell a story.
But what if these two mediums were combined?
What would a poem with illustrations look like? Even more importantly, what would it read like?
This is essentially the motif that Septagon Studios new comic, “Masks,” draws its inspiration from.
A “photographic” poem, the visuals presented here are absolutely beautiful and the written element is intriguing. But does that mean this book is winner? Not so fast. While you’ll want to read more once the first issue is over, the story is hard to follow. At times, it’s utterly confusing.
In issue one, the main character, Sara, is on a type of internal journey, which allows her to see the deaths and memories of other people. Even more interesting, she experiences them as if they are her own. On the trail of this “phantom” killer, the images inside her mind are as scary and chilling as the killer himself. A small glimpse into the series, issue one is chock full of suspense, as the disturbing images of dead bodies and blurry, scattered memories fuel the tale.
In spite of this, the tale isn’t as linear as previously described. At times, it’s difficult to tell who’s talking and even more of a challenge to understand the plot shifts. While we know that Sara isn’t a trustworthy narrator and we expect a kind of uncertainty when she begins to experience the life of someone else, there’s no real warning of the impending transitions and psyche changes. This makes the plot tough to get into.
If these continuity issues are cleared up through the next few issues and a more intuitive and accessible plot is established or the current one refined a bit, “Masks,” which already boasts amazing visuals, will be a sleeper hit and worthy of your undivided attention.
At the same time, the whole purpose of the writing in this comic is to provide surreptitious ambiance to the lavish scene setting. Asking writer and creator Aaron Rintoul to tone down the poetry wouldn’t make much sense in the end.
Because of that, “Masks” may not be for everyone, but by the sheer power of its visuals alone, it’s an entertaining experiment that is far from forgettable.
Patrick,
why not review the entire graphic novel not just the first 21 pages? I think it would have made more sense to you as the story really starts to unravel for the reader in the second and final part of the book. It also becomes less poetic with each chapter. :p
Amy, we’re going to review the rest of the series, have no fear :)