Every year, the Xeric Foundation doles out grants to a handful of neophyte comics creators to fund the creation and publication of new comics storytelling that explores unusual points of view. Content is the result of one of those grants, and it doesn't take the reader long to figure out why this project was chosen for the grant.
And as for the odd title of the book... here's a hint: it's an adjective, not a noun.
A disillusioned young man volunteers to serve as a test subject for an experiment designed to stimulate unused portions of the brain during dreaming, but the test subject quickly discovers an unusual side effect. He glimpses his future, and encounters his past self. He becomes determined to change the past to improve his present.
The first thing that struck me about this book was the art. Tran's style reminds me of the work of Arthur (Kissing Chaos) Dela Cruz and Guy (Deadline) Davis, with a touch of manga softness thrown in for good measure. Though the book offers a number of amusing and touching moments, there's always a dark undercurrent. Tran's sketchy approach maintains that foreboding atmosphere nicely throughout the book.
There's a surreal, almost spiritual quality to the sci-fi premise. This isn't so much a story about time travel, but about one man's inability to be happy. That refusal to find any sense of satisfaction in his life -- let alone a promising future -- paints a rather pathetic picture of the main character. Even with the ability to see the future, he's unable to let go of his past. Ultimately, this is a psychological story, not one of science-fiction wonder or the oddities of paradoxes.
The greatest strength of this book, though, is the characterization. Elin and Stef are thoroughly believable characters, and watching the former pursue the latter is a surprising bit of fun. Despite the fantastic premise, the characters are grounded, and they serve as our gateway into this near-future. It's easy to take Elin's place and ponder one's own childhood and one's own hopes for the future.
Note: Some comments in ths review were reproduced from a previuos feature on the website.
