In just 18 pages, comics veteran Michael Oeming is able to take you on a journey.
No super powers or capes needed.
Sure, there’s a supernatural element involved, but Oeming maintains a noir-styled narrative that will leave you addicted and wanting more.
Not ironically, the tale’s protagonist, Shane, has a main objective- to escape addiction and reclaim his life. It’s a tale all too familiar with Oeming, who has admitted to having his own share of vices during his life. That type of accountability is something Shane is just beginning to discover. In a fight with the same demons as his mother, Shane ultimately discovers his purpose in life. But his fight is only beginning.
In a nice twist, this seemingly singular tale can continue. It should.
A one-shot, this character, this world, may never be seen again. That would be a travesty. Although the premise is different and even simple, the emotional depth of the writing and Oeming’s art make it a winner. Using a dark, almost muddy black palette, Oeming’s world is almost “Sin City” meets “Nightmare Before Christmas.” The environment is an oxymoron, disgusting, but beautiful. It’s intentionally done. An alcoholic, Shane’s world has lost its form, its function. He needs to be saved. He must save himself.
The fact Oeming creates this world through both his art and writing is not to be bypassed. There are far too few writer/artists today that can produce a word of such brevity by themselves. It’s almost as if the concept of a writer drawing his own comics is a rarity today. But in 15 minutes, Oeming is able to tell a tale and get the reader to dissect his or her own faults.
That’s more than enough to give this title a shot.
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