Boom! Studios has turned a few heads in the industry over the past year or so, offering up entertaining and usually irreverent fare. But with the release of Talent #1, the relatively new publisher is going to come to the attention of a much wider audience. Talent is a rare creature: a comic book that lives up with its own in-house hype. It's been billed as something fans of Lost would enjoy, and I have to concur. The concept is a simple one but full of potential. I'm surprised Talent is scheduled only as a four-issue limited series, because there's plenty of material to establish an ongoing series. Established comics writers Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski balance the dark intrigue of the book with some real-world elements that make it easy to immerse oneself in the story. Talent is a book that might escape the notice of many readers since it's not being released by one of the larger publishers, but fans of genre fiction and comics storytelling in general would be well advised to seek it out.
As Flight 654 nears JFK Airport, the captain announces to his passengers and crew that it'll only be 15 minutes before landing, but that announcement proves to be a useless one. An explosion tears through the aircraft, plunging the fuselage and all those aboard into the waters below. Everyone was either killed on impact or drowned within seconds of immersion. At least, that's what the diving crew assigned to check out the scene expect to find. Instead, they find a lone survivor. Prof. Nicholas Dane miraculously survived in his seat at the bottom of the ocean. He's at a loss to explain why he was spared... and why a second chance at life isn't the only gift that's been bestowed upon him.
Azaceta's art reminds me a great deal of the style of Tommy Lee Edwards... so much so, in fact, that as I read the book, I had assumed Edwards was the one responsible for the line art. The use of shadow achieves a great effect, and despite a somewhat minimalist approach, Azaceta achieves a truly realistic look. The characters' reactions ring true, and he has a strong eye for anatomy as well. Ron Riley's approach to the colors is similar to that of Lee Loughridge, as he also employs muted colors to add to the tension. The colors also seemed as though they're tinged with greys, further reinforcing the dark, dangerous tone of the story.
Nick Dane is something of a cypher in this first issue, and it's a smart decision on the writers' part. We really don't know a lot about this everyman protagonist. Instead, the focus is on the passengers who didn't survive and on the plot. I'm sure we're going to learn a lot more about Dane as the series progresses, but at this early juncture, the scant detail allows the reader to relate to the character. Basically, the reader becomes the sole survivor of Flight 654, as the blank slate that is the main characters allows one to steps into his shoes.
I have to give the writers and the publisher credit for the timing of this comic's release. The antagonists of the book seem connected to the organized religion, and it put me in mind of The Da Vinci Code. Given the mass marketing of the movie and the popularity of the novel, including a "cardinal" as a key player behind the scenes is bound to resonate with readers. Ultimately, the book doesn't need that pop-culture synergy to connect with the reader. The premise and atmosphere of the book alone should be enough to hook an audience. 9/10
