I liked this comic book much more than I expected to, and I'm not even among the target audience for which the creators are aiming. Steve Vance brings super-hero elements to the world of superficial high-school angst, and nt surprisingly, it works well. After all, it's worked so well so many times before. The problem, ahem, older readers might experience, as I did, is that we know that these teenage troubles really amount to nothing in a the grander scheme of things. Jennifer Graves impresses with her artwork as well, but the darker tone of the visuals doesn't seem to suit the lighter tone of the story.
Lauren Case's dad's job requires him and his family to move around a lot, and his teenage daughter feels she's permanently afflicted with New Girl Syndrome when it comes to school. This fall semester is different, though, as her new school is actually a new school. San Narciso High is opening its doors for the first time, but unfortunately, Lauren finds herself back in a familiar role, shunned by a quartet of the school's most popular -- and selfish -- girls, and associated with a science geek named Ronald Bogley, who's made an interesting discovery in the school's basement.
Graves's artwork here reminds me of such artists' styles as Michael (Gotham Central) Lark, Cliff (Beware the Creeper) Chiang, Dev (Young Heroes in Love) Madan and Kano (H-E-R-O). Her work boasts a gritty quality, and combined with Loughridge's eerie, muted colors, it makes for a dark look. The thing is that the story -- as it stands right now -- really isn't all that dark. The artwork is strong, but it doesn't seem to match the tone in the script. I was expecting something as light and flirty as Darwyn Cooke's cover. Mind you, the story could easily take on an edgier atmosphere with future issues, so it's possible the visuals cues foreshadow what's to come.
I suppose the biggest problem with this book is that the plot is rather obvious. The antagonists -- the "evil" quartet of popular girls from which the book derives its title -- are completely vacuous. Sure, we've all known people like that whom we've viewed in a similar one-dimensional light, but it's something of an easy way out when it comes to characterization. I hope Vance fleshes these characters out more in the future.
What makes the issue worth reading is the main character, Lauren. The narration really brings out her personality, and one can't help but relate to her frustration with being an outsider. Her conflicting hatred of the "Bad Girls" and her desire to be accepted by them is a universal notion.
