The Surface #1
THE SURFACE #1
Writer: Ales Kot
Artist: Langdon Foss, Jordie Bellaire
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 11, 2015
Cover Price: $3.50
The Surface is a book suffocated by itself despite how interesting, complex and creative all of its individual elements are.
Kot writes an interesting story in a world that parallels and parodies our own in rewarding and sometimes too obvious ways. He crafts a world with his words, one where belief, technology, nature and intention all interact. What is The Surface? Does anyone fully understand it? The questions are raised but, intentionally not answered, in a rewarding and unfolding way.
The problem? It’s dense, excessive writing. If it’s the focus, it needs to be tailored and cut down to really pull people into it in the early stages. If it’s supposed to be a companion to the art, then it needs to crowd the pages less, because here, the text blocks and speech bubbles are muddling, imprisoning even.
Foss’ and Bellaire’s art is expansive, welcoming, warm and colorful in comparison. It’s full of varied scenes and characters that are both present and not. The book’s solicitation cites Moebius as an inspiration, a reference point. It’s obvious in the best possible ways, too. The cities, deserts and people are complex, layered and detailed to a painstaking extent. Kot is a skilled, if unrestrained writer but this duo of artists is as good as it gets. It’s a shame that the words crowd these pages so much.
The Surface is built on an interesting idea, it just needs some room to breathe and hone in because right now it’s a massive undertaking to even see if you’re interested.
Writer: Ales Kot
Artist: Langdon Foss, Jordie Bellaire
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: March 11, 2015
Cover Price: $3.50
The Surface is a book suffocated by itself despite how interesting, complex and creative all of its individual elements are.
Kot writes an interesting story in a world that parallels and parodies our own in rewarding and sometimes too obvious ways. He crafts a world with his words, one where belief, technology, nature and intention all interact. What is The Surface? Does anyone fully understand it? The questions are raised but, intentionally not answered, in a rewarding and unfolding way.
The problem? It’s dense, excessive writing. If it’s the focus, it needs to be tailored and cut down to really pull people into it in the early stages. If it’s supposed to be a companion to the art, then it needs to crowd the pages less, because here, the text blocks and speech bubbles are muddling, imprisoning even.
Foss’ and Bellaire’s art is expansive, welcoming, warm and colorful in comparison. It’s full of varied scenes and characters that are both present and not. The book’s solicitation cites Moebius as an inspiration, a reference point. It’s obvious in the best possible ways, too. The cities, deserts and people are complex, layered and detailed to a painstaking extent. Kot is a skilled, if unrestrained writer but this duo of artists is as good as it gets. It’s a shame that the words crowd these pages so much.
The Surface is built on an interesting idea, it just needs some room to breathe and hone in because right now it’s a massive undertaking to even see if you’re interested.
A Look Inside
