Youth #3 Review

Written by: Curt Pires
Art by: Alex Diotto
Colors by: Dee Cunniffe
Lettered by: Micah Myers
Published by: ComiXology Originals
 

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LOAD UP ON GUNS
BRING YOUR FRIENDS

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PLAY: SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT - NIRVANA

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Damn, Daniel! Youth is back at it again robbing vans.

The lows and highs of this comic are starting to feel like a drug trip. And, this is an issue filled with lows and highs. The highs can feel great like soaring into the sky with your newfound friends and your newfound powers, or high as a molly trip in a bumping club. But the lows hit like an armored van to the face, a headfirst dive into the pavement, or a scorned, superpowered teen’s left hook. We are now seeing the downside of Youth, heightened by the unpredictability of these new abilities. That’s probably why this is such a commonly explored theme in comics. Comics like X-Men have been showing how adolescents deal with powers in a more kitschy way, manga like Akira shows the darkness that can come from giving someone young, who feels powerless, immense power, and movies like Chronicle explore similar tales of the tribal side of friendships found because of an extraordinary happening. Youth is now making its own, distinctly modern, way. This issue is filled with the angst and compulsiveness of its still young and naive characters. The dramatic end of the last issue was just the beginning of us seeing how erratic the brewing situation is. And, as the events seem only likely to escalate, it appears these characters are already down a path they can’t, and aren’t prepared to, control.

More great use of expressive art paired with expressive coloring made this issue an eye-catching read. The way the art can capture a moment in time and give it a sense of impact and motion, that I’ve mentioned before, continues in this issue. The shot of the armored vehicle crashing into River, has that palpable impact to it. I mentioned how the use of rubble and fabric can enhance the sense of movement, like a “snapshot” of action, and both are used well in that full-page shot. The coloring also affects the mood wonderfully. The open scenes with the security guys conversing are colored in a way that feels “domestic” and the sunny environment feels like a slice of life moment that mirrors the believable dialogue. Then when the action hits, it hits harder because of the sudden shift in tone. There’s almost a lulling into security effect it has; the entire scene reminded me of a Quentin Tarantino scene (adding to the cinematic quality I’ve already touched on). More uses of the dusk lighting are seen in this issue as the group flies away the night of their confrontation with the government guys. And, the club scene is the most influenced by the great art. The use of many panels gives a chaotic feeling to it. And, the colors/effects not only enhance the vibe of the characters being in a “heightened” state but also makes the club feel audibly alive; I can almost hear the music.

This trip is turning sour on our characters. They were riding high, but the inability to control themselves is starting to be their downfall. And, with a bunch of kids, you couldn’t have really expected better, even though you might have wished for it. This is another completely compelling chapter of this story. It’s such a neatly done comic even given how messy its contents are. Maybe the characters will wise up before they go too far, but the history of adolescence is not on their side.