Written by Curt Pires
Illustrated by David Rubin
Colours by Michael Garland
Letters by Colin Bell
Published by Boom! Studios
One of the great wonders as a young kid is coming across a story, a book, for the first time and completely falling in love with it. It may be the characters, the elaborate setting, or the fantastical elements of said story that keeps you coming back for more. An attachment is born, a link to a certain story that grows over time, allowing you to get lost in another world time and time again. The Fiction #1 takes this concept of the power of imagination within fictional stories to the literal level. What if you were actually transported to the very setting you were reading about and were able to interact with the characters within?
The Fiction begins with a group of kids, fifteen years before the present time, named Max, Kassie, Tsang, and Tyler. The four sit in an attic, above where their parents are currently arguing over something incomprehensible to them. It becomes evident early that each of their home lives differs according to the relationships their parents have with one another. Tsang, for example, feels that his parents are unhappy with one another and is disconnected from them. As this personal story is revealed, Tsang opens and reads from a red, hardback book. As the words are spoken the four of them are transported to the described surroundings, becoming one with an eventual multiple fictional realities.
The thought of being able to escape and actually interact with these imaginative places and multi-faceted characters would appeal to almost any young kid. Eventually the magic and bewilderment of their adventures wears off as Tsang disappears within a fictional journey. Fast forward to the present time where the mysterious red book returns, grabbing Tyler as well. It is now up to Kassie to convince Max to return to the fictional lands they ventured as a kid in the hopes of finding Tyler and perhaps Tsang as well.
Curt Pires crafts a fast paced script that appeals to anyone whom has ever had the urge to escape from their own mundane reality; whether it is that of an 8 year old kid, a 23 year old student or a 45 year old parent approaching their mid-life crisis. The words flow along nicely with David Rubin’s illustrations, capturing the excitement and intrigue on the kids’ faces. Rubin’s ability to capture reactions is stronger when faces are closer within the frame, swapping dotted eyes for well-lit coloured eyes. He is also no stranger to lively, frenetic pacing as evidenced in the excellent prequel to Battling Boy, The Rise of Aurora West.
Michael Garland’s colours are vibrant and plentiful; especially amongst the early forays into the fictional realm. Boom! really does seem to have some of the more colourful books on the stands these days, showcasing the work of some of the most fantastic colourists in the business. Speaking of fantastic, the multi-talented Colin Bell lends his lettering skills to the pages of The Fiction. Bell playfully highlights sound, from Kassie’s alarm clock, to the thrusting of her motorcycle. The sense of energy can be fully felt from the collaborative effort from all creative hands on deck.
The Fiction #1 begins on a very high note, establishing the concept and allowing the last few pages to add to the mystery of the disappeared kids. It will be very interesting to see where this series is going, especially if more time is going to be spent within the fictional world.