Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Pisces #1
Image Comics
Wiebe, Christmas, Bonvillain & Brisson
Pisces promises to be a book that combines war trauma, alien contact mixed with a loving partner for the protagonist, NASA training and a secret mission. This first issue barely touches on these aspects. Without reading the solicitation I would have been at a complete loss as to what this issue was about. That is a big problem and a reason that this comic just can't be judged fairly. The comic has lovely art and tells a story of a man (Dillon) trapped behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War. It's an okay read but this may not be the comic book you think it is. At least not yet.
The book is divided into two sections. The first sees a beaten and bloody man stumbling into an emergency room. He's not checking in, he's looking for someone. Another character, in a hospital gown, then beats him senseless while describing what a screw up the man has been.
The book then shifts to Vietnam. The same guy in the hospital getting beaten is seen with another man. Both are survivors of a crash. As they make their way through the jungle things don't go as expected. Eventually the book ends with something that might be science-fiction-like.
As far as comic book construction goes this isn't the best first issue. The characterization of the lead character is thin to say the least. The scenes are mashed together without any sort of transition. The comic is light on dialogue so the reader is left to the visuals to decide if the story is something worth following. A gamble to say the least.
The book works because questions are left unanswered. If the reader finds this character someone they want to follow then there is plenty of mystery to bring them back for more next month.
The artwork is very good. The use of color, specifically during the war, is done with great effect on the mood of the comic. The pencils are very detailed and this allows the reader a very solid look into this universe on paper. The comic has some odd depictions of the Viet Cong, but I think the desired effect is to show them as children or teenagers basically. The visuals on this book help along a story with plenty of holes.
Pisces may wind up being an epic. The comic could turn out to be something you can't wait for each month. However, this first issue is a very hard sell. There isn't much in here to define the characters or frame up the plot. This first issue is basically a Vietnam pilot behind enemy lines story. I'm not sure this is for everyone.
2.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
