Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Swerve OGN
Arcana
Judy & Wee
Swerve is an original graphic novel that provides a layered, character-drive and gripping story about the crooked world of low-level organized crime that wears the mask of professional wrestling by day. The comic book is an intelligently designed story that draws the reader in and pulls the rug from under them at more than one turn. I found the comic to be simply brilliant.
The comic follows a character named Eric Layton. Layton was briefly a professional football player before blowing out his knee. In need of money he finds his way into the wrestling ring. Layton is the protagonist of the story but he isn't the only character that seems to have morals, but he also isn't a character that is inherently a decent person. Despite having sound reasons for making some of the decisions he makes, he seems to wander off the path for other, more suspect, reasons by the book's end. The lines are gray all of over this story to be sure.
Layton is walked through the wrestling life by a former wrestled turned enforcer, Joe. Eventually Joe helps bring Layton into the world of drugs, guns and crime. Other characters that play major roles in the book are Bobby Sweet, Tony, Doghouse and Lilly. Each of them has their hands in the wrestling business and the crime world. All of them have aspects that make them utterly unlikable. However, the comic book isn't all that it seems with regards to many of these characters and that is the joy of the book.
One of the terrific aspects of the book is how the story weaves in wrestling terms and defines them for the reader. Terms like "Heel Turn" and, obviously, "Swerve", are just a couple of examples. On the surface you would think they are just educating the reader about wrestling, but after the first definition it becomes quickly apparent that these terms all relate to the crime and shady aspect of the character's moves and not those in the ring.
Another great element throughout this book is construction of the book. The book is a dense read that provides a tremendous amount of background on the characters in addition to bloody action and a complex plot. However, the flashbacks and the layered plot all weave together to tell a very elegant tale. The care taken to provide specific information at pointed times is very reminiscent of a Grant Morrison story and that made the book so much more fun to read.
Finally, the artwork is pitch perfect for the book's material. Like many of the crime books out these days, the book has dull coloring and dark shading throughout the book to set the mood. However, the book provides stunning character details to really "sell" the emotional aspect of the book. I am big believer that the dialogue should line up with how the character's expressions are portrayed on the panel and this book is a great example of how to do that effectively. This was a terrific visual story.
Swerve is one of the better stories I've read all year. While I was drawn in because I was curious about crime and wrestling I found the characters to be the primary hook once I started reading the book. The wrestling aspect is really a background prop that once in a while makes an appearance. By the end of the book I realized this was as much a heist story as a general crime book. When a comic covers this many genres it usually means a wide audience is going to find something that they like in the book.
Swerve is available on comixology now and will be available via trade in February. I definitely recommend tracking this down and giving it a read.
5 out of 5 Geek Goggles
