Man! Look at your friendly neighborhood jman! I’m really evolving into an indie reader. East of West, Lazarus, the Wake and now Trillium. Iknowiknowiknow. I shouldn’t be too proud of myself. Trillium is just another Vertigo title, which is published by DC Comics, which everyone knows is as far from independent publishing as it gets. Still, though. You gotta be impressed. There isn’t anyone in this book wearing a cape…at least not yet.
I suppose I should be somewhat upfront with something else, since I’m being honest. It’s not as if I found Trillium on my own. No. That credit goes to my LCS owner. He suggested it to me. When it comes to books, the guy’s hardly ever wrong. He turned me onto Thor, Hawkeye and Green Arrow, the guy is dead on. So, when he suggest Trillium #1, I was there.
One other caveat before I turn my attention to Trillium…I’m not a fan of “reviewing” things. It’s just my opinion, right?!? That’s why I like to do “discussions”. Suresuresure. It all may just seem like semantics, but for me, it’s the intent. In any case, as much of a non fan of reviews as I am, I’m even less of a fan of reviewing a new series based on one book. How can you judge a non established book on 20 odd pages. Yes. I know it’s possible, but to be fair, you gotta give a book at least two issues, amiright?!?!
All that nonsense aside Trillium #1 is an interesting book. And one I probably would’ve avoided if it weren’t suggested to me for the simple fact that the artwork is, well…not what I usually am into. Jeff Lemire, who writes the book (as well as Justice League Dark and Green Arrow) also illustrates Trillium. It’s got a “quirky” style to it, that isn’t usually down my preferred “stylized” alley. Still, though, I’m came to grips with the “quirkiness” early on.
But, that’s not what makes the book interesting. The fact that it’s a flip book, does. You gotta be careful which side you start this book on, even though it’s not designated on the cover or the first few pages. Which, is probably done for a good reason, although I’m not sure why.
Without giving too much of the book away, there are two adventures going on (what looks to be) concurrently (hence the flip sides); one in the future (a woman trying to save humanity from the brink of extinction), one in the past (a man searching for the immortality). Both of them looking for the same flower…Trillium. The two stories end up intersecting in the middle of the book. Literally.
The story that takes place in the past is a bit hard to follow at first. It involves flashbacks layered on flashbacks. I had to read those first few pages to get what was going on (and I’m still not exactly sure) a few times, but it wasn’t enough to stop me from reading the book in it’s entirety. And at $2.99 price point, it wasn’t too much of a gamble, either. Believe you me, I’ve spent a lot more on a lot worse (and I’m not talking that long ago, either) from DC Comics.
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