Two-in-One: Dark Matter #1-4 In this installment of Two-in-One reviews, Don and Randy take a look at a creator using computer-modelling for his comic... no, it's not Elektra or War Machine; it's a self-published comic called Dark Matter. Randy: I encountered Dark Matter for the first time at the Expo last year, and decided to chance the three bucks for three issues and see what it was all about. Recently, creator Steve Kirkland mailed copies of all four issues to me and Don, giving me a chance to get reacquainted with this very unusual comic. Don: It's always cool to see someone trying to make their comics dream become reality all on their own, and that's why I'm sorry to say that Dark Matter just didn't work for me. I think Kirkland is thinking too big with this initial comics efforts, and flying solo just isn't serving his story well. Dark Matter #1-4 published by Dark Star Comics written and illustrated by Steve Kirkland Randy: Kirkland has cooked up an interesting stew of ingredients for his comic. There are elements of crime, espionage, super-heroics and science-fiction in the story, and the way he presents it is akin to the way that Grant Morrison often writes, viewing the reader as a participant as much as an observer. Unfortunately, I think that Kirkland has perhaps thrown in too many ingredients, among them some fairly difficult-to-interpret artwork, and has made something of a weak stew as a result. Don: Dark Matter tells the story of one night in the city, a night like any other. A shopkeeper is gunned down by a gang of thugs. An acclaimed broadcast journalist makes his move on the station's newest reporter. A groups of thieves is hired to steal a diamond. But most importantly, a being of immense power comes into existence to act as the eyes looking over the city. If only the story flowed that well. The storytelling in all four issues of Dark Matter is disjointed. It's hard to follow conceptually and visually. Kirkland seems to go off on tangents. There's potential here, but for it to come into focus, discipline and collaboration is definitely needed. Randy: There are definitely story elements I was interested in here. The mind-controlling villain and his sadistic control was intriguing, for instance. And the first two issues, with an all-too-real depiction of random street crime and then a depiction of sexual harassment and a very strange journalist, were fairly interesting to me. However, the introduction of super-heroic elements seemed to come out of left field, and even the issues I enjoyed didn't seem to connect in any meaningful way. There are nice ideas here, but not much in the way of a strong plot. Don: Kirkland doesn't seem to have one central plot in mind either. The main character -- depicted on the cover of all four issues -- doesn't even turn up until the end of the second issue, and his inner conflict is far too vague. Randy: While Kirkland is not a bad writer by any means, his dialogue is often a bit too obvious, with the characters speaking their mind rather than speaking in normal patterns. This is hardly unusual in super-hero comics, but it seems out of place in the crime stories or, most notably, in the manipulative scenes between the journalist and his would-be protege. Don: You're right... the dialogue is obvious at times, but at others, it's completely cryptic, seemingly designed to leave the reader scratching his head. I'm sure the intended effect was to pique one's interest, but confusion and disinterest are the unfortunate result. Randy: For me, the weakest part of the book was the artwork, and unfortunately it is a considerable stumbling point. The computer modeling doesn't really allow for the kind of sophisticated facial and body movements needed to tell a story, and the characters are extremely difficult to make out. Also, and this may be a result of the cheap paper (and resulting cheap price, in all fairness), but the book is extremely dark. There are entire pages where I can't make heads or tails out of what is going on. We are forced to rely on the words for far too much of the reading experience, and while Kirkland does a surprisingly good job of conveying the story when he's working against the artwork, it does make for a difficult reading experience. Don: Yes, Kirkland's story is not at all served well by the cheap printing. This is an inky, inky book, and the obscurity in the script is reflected in the art as well. What really caught my attention was Kirkland's explanations regarding the art. He admits he cannot draw, and that's why he uses computer models for his work... other people's computer models, to be precise. I found it a bit disconcerting that this writer is so protective of his comic-book work that he hurts his craft in the process. I doubt this will be the first time the writer has heard such a criticism, as there's almost a defensive tone in Kirkland's editorials Randy: I always hate to give a negative review, especially when it comes to a self-publishing creator who so clearly has a unique vision and enthusiasm for their material. But Dark Matter, much as I felt the craft improved with each issue, just isn't quite there yet for me. Don: What Kirkland really needs to do to develop this property further is to collaborate with someone -- artist, editor, someone -- if only for a fresh set of eyes. Email Randy and Don comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.