As Dio and Natas traverse the Dreamscape of an evil mobster, all in the hopes to retrieve , things get out of hand. Meanwhile other forces are seeking out to apprehend them by any means. It’s a psychedelic maelstrom of insanity in all the ways a comic can ever be! Will Dio obtain the precious memories of her former lover? Will Dio and Natas escape from the dreamlike void?
Writing: Jim Mahfood has always been a creator that is talented as an illustrator, but as a writer, it’s undeniable how enjoyable his writing can be. As Dio and Natas cross the psychedelic astral plane of Mr. Chazee (a villain), Mahfood does a great job at swinging for the fences and letting things fly and fit as need be, that not only makes it enjoyable as a story but justifiable in the insane world that the story and characters inhabit. Dio’s quest to retrieve the ashes of her former lover billy is something that is easy to follow as a story, and at the core of this issue is simple to grasp. Most mainstream comic fans who just focus on superheroes will possibly have difficulty accepting other kinds of art styles, and genres within the comics medium, but what makes this series and this issue shine is that the comics medium can have all sorts of insanity yet still stay true to the root of its story. A broken-hearted lover trying to salvage the memories of what’s left, but having to make the choice to
Art/Lettering: In regards to the art department, Jim Mahfood does what he does best, illustrate comics in his stylistic way that has always been a hallmark of his work. His art goes hand in hand with the writing that neither could be separated from each other. Given that he’s an independent creator that handles the artist duties and writing duties, he’s able to make everything sync with perfection. Whether it’s drawing psychedelic layouts or humorous moments, it goes hand in hand with the writing so well that it never takes you out of the comic. Which is tricky sometimes for some writer/artists creators who are solid duos that have distinct voices, whom sometimes don’t always sync with each other despite how well they work together. In regards to lettering, it can be tricky when reading handwritten dialogue in a comic. It can be hit or miss, but given that Mahfood has been doing this for many years, upon reading this book for review, it was a breeze to read. It’s like you’re reading a personal comic made personally for you. There’s a charm to the lettering that feels that personal that when you read the comic, it flows like a personal journal. Mahfood is able to maintain his voice through his line work, layouts, colors, and writing. The artwork is erratic, energetic, and humorous in all the best ways, and the clever use of textures, lines, screen tones, and color choices all lends itself into a fun package of a book (especially with the design contributions of Carmen Acosta who made this book beautifully packed with her design work).
It’s always a joy to read comics made by creators with unique voices, that remind readers that there are many ways for a story to be told no matter the style or format. They remind us of what makes storytelling great and what makes comics as a medium, one of, if not, quite possibly the best medium to tell all kinds of stories through. If you’re into indie comics, Mahfood’s previous efforts or you’re into unique creators with a unique voice that show why they’re good at their craft, I highly recommend adding this book to your pull list for new comic book day.
Newsdesk