DC Vertigo’s Border Town continues to shake up the neighbourhood with issue 3. And what a neighbourhood it is!
Written by Eric M. Esquivel, with art by Ramon Villalobos, this book is made of a powerful combination of dramatic elements: Mexican heritage, disenfranchised teens, a town without pity, and well, monsters.
We trace the roots of the current invasion of monsters back to 1516, ‘when this land was unspoiled by borders, fear, and hate”.. “This land” referring to the Texas town where the teens live. Through the subsequent years, with the indigenous population being exploited and killed by intruders, the old ways have largely been lost, and the new generations of Mexicans are without spiritual guidance. Until today.
And today, undocumented Americans are being arrested in their workplace, black teens are considered to be almost ‘invisible’, and creepy guidance counselors are intimidating female students. Ah, the perfectly disturbed background for this ongoing series.
It’s well-paced and carefully drawn, with a nicely surreal/realistic visual tone. That is, things look kind of realistically rendered, but brightly coloured, making the panels border on 60’s psychedelic. It all fits the story. You might like this book; I know I do!
DC Vertigo, Border Town #3, $3.99 Mature readers
Newsdesk