Two powerful creative force from the world of small-press comics join forces to take on subject matter to which just about anyone immersed in white-collar work can relate. The two creators are known for radically different approaches to storytelling. Hurd is known for his down-to-earth, universal human drama (e.g. - My Uncle Jeff, and Smith for his surreal and sweet characters (such as those found in Shuck). The two men merge those different styles perfectly here for an amusing yet depressing tale of corporate politics and professional lethargy.
Every workday holds something new for Envy Saint-Claire, which sounds like a nice way to live until one realizing that temping is far from the more glamorous lifestyle. Envy finds herself in a most peculiar workplace when she shows up for a day of data entry at the Calvin C. Nelson HMO offices. Poor communication and bad management leave her stranded in a sea of cubicles and worker bees with no idea of what's expected of her and without the proper equipment to do her job. She begins to question what's going on around her, and that's just what the higher-ups don't want.
Smith's simple but oddball art style serves the mindlessness and the madness of the office environment quite well. I notice that his portrayal of Envy is far more realistic than the twisted, unfortunate creatures who surround her, and that reinforces the notion that she is the only healthy person in an unhealthy environment. Envy moves naturally and quietly, while those around her are all about exaggeration. Smith's design for Envy reminds me of Paul (Jack Staff, Kane) Grist's work. The backgrounds in the book are a bit sparse, and we never get the sort of detail and perspective that Smith offers up on the cover.
I'm told that Smith was quite involved with the plotting here, and it shows through in the storytelling. Hurd captures everyday humanity quite well, but Smith's penchant for portraying a non-threatening insanity shines through here as well. The message the creators share here is not a subtle one, but it's worth sharing. People are surprisingly accepting of work environments and attitudes that treat them as lesser beings, even though the corporate speak dresses things up as being kinder and gentler. It is insane to remain in a situation in which one is being mistreated, but too many of us are terrified to make much needed changes.
This first issue of Temporary is like Dilbert, if the strip were presented as a tragedy as opposed as a comedy. Some of the behavior here is laughable, but what makes it so depressing is the knowledge that it so accurately reflects real life. People are beaten into submission for nothing more than mediocre paycheck, and it's only someone with far less job security and money, an outsider, who can see how ridiculous the notion is. 8/10
