The Tomorrows #2

The Tomorrows #2
Writer: Curt Pires
Artist: Alexis Ziritt
Colors: Adam Metcalfe
 
I make no attempt to hide that Curt Pires (POP, Mayday) is my favorite writer right now. He’s great at making tight, cohesive and off the rails stories that are equal parts homage to Hunter S. Thompson (amongst others) and genuine, new and refreshing ideas sitting somewhere between concise social commentary and psychedelic soul searching.

With this second issue of The Tomorrows, in tandem with a great artistic team, Pires proves that he can write interesting action/chase scenes, too.

Where the first issue of this series, accompanied by another great artist, Jason Copland (each issue has a different artist similar to Ales Kot’s Zero) was equal parts Akira and Bowie, this issue is more akin to The Warriors in Blade Runner with Bourne Identity chase scenes (Damon, not Hawkeye). It works.

This is a tense, tight issue that is somewhat disappointingly lacking in narrative depth but makes up for it with carefully orchestrated and executed scenes and excellent pacing complimented by  refreshingly unique scenery, escaping the pitfalls of a North American focused apocalypse like so much media is oversaturated with right now.

Ziritt’s art, intentionally flat in some places like a post-apocalyptic, highly technical sci-fi cave painting, is equal parts gritty and tenacious but sometimes, too busy for the eye to manage initially. Accompanied by Metcalfe’s equally gripping colors, the ultimate, mind bending twist of this issue’s finale catches your attention in a way few other scenes might in other books out right now.

The Tomorrows, even in lighter issues like this, is something different. Something equal parts homage and unique. Pires knows what he’s doing and seeing all of these issues and their varying art collected together will really be something special. For now, though, enjoy the ride. I am. 

Suggested listening: older Tv On The Radio, Aphex Twin's more aggresive songs, or anything equally glitchy lo-fi indie-punk of your choosing.