I didn't read Vox. Didn't hear tell of it until two or three issues were released, and I never laid eyes on a single copy. Now I wish I had. Leland Purvis boasts a delightfully organic, unique approach to comic art and storytelling. He blends a variety of genres to arrive a quirky premise that almost defies description. Ultimately, though, he offers up a fanciful story with a great deal of personality and a tremendous sense of fun.
An odd gnome-like man named Pubo -- the product of genetic experimentation -- makes a daring escape and finds himself in the middle of a forest filled with magical and mysterious creatures. They befriend him and take him to the one person who might be able to help him, a mysterious nam named One-Stone. Meanwhile, the two agents charged with Pubo's delivery are now responsible for hunting him down and bringing him back.
Purvis's eye for weird, distored yet somehow natural design stands out as the book's greatest strength. Pubo's misshapen body may set him apart from humanity, but it also exudes a lot of power. I almost can't believe that the guy who designed the title character also came up with the lovely and lithe Poppie. Purvis's thick linework and eye for detail makes for some fascinating visuals, so natural in appearance that the reader almost forgets the fantastic traits of the characters.
I love that the title character -- whose appearance might lead one to believe he's something of a buffoon or a dim-witted but loveable innocent -- is actually pretty sharp. He's resourceful and sarcastic. There's a playful yet mature tone to the character, as well as the supporting cast. The bumbling men in black are particularly entertaining, as is Poppie, the little butterfly person that's fallen into the role of Pubo's sidekick.
At first, the book comes off as something of a dark conspiracy-theory adventure. At others, it's a fable. At times, it's farcical. Sci-fi and the supernatural... well, they don't collide, but they're waiting for same bus here anyway. Pubo reminds me of Bone and Black Panther. I honestly don't know what to make of it yet, but I do know that I'm enjoying it, and I look forward to learning what Purvis's grander vision of the character, the plot and the themes of the title really are.
