"The Unwritten"

               Today I took a look at “The Unwritten-Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity” by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.

               To begin, I should tell you about my friend. We’ll call him The Doctor. Doc is pretty much my go to guy whenever I’m clueless as to which comics I should start reading (which is surprisingly often). So when Doc says, “Man, you’ve gotta check out Unwritten. It’s like an English major’s wet dream,” I take the hint.

               “The Unwritten” is an excellent example of the emerging genre of literary/fantasy based comics that have been creeping in more and more in the once super hero exclusive comic book shelves. It’s refreshing to see a tale set in the “real” world, while still implementing magical elements of the fantasy genre, without seeming tacky or out of place.

               So, let’s imagine Harry Potter (this will be easier for some of you than others), except let’s say that JK Rowling had a kid that she actually named Harry Potter, and drug this child to all over the world building a fan cult around little Harry, with a good percentage of the world thinking he is actually a boy wizard who came to save us all from He Who Has No Nose. That is essentially what you get in “The Unwritten”, except instead of some wholesome Boy Scout, you get Tommy Taylor; an alcohol swigging convention personality, trying to desperately break free from the image of his literary counterpart. He also has some really garish bowling shirts. Then again, if everyone thought I was a boy wizard, I’d probably dress like a back up dancer from “Saturday Night Fever” too.

               Now, at first, that breakdown might not sound so hot. Lord knows I thought one Harry Potter franchise was enough. But Carey weaves a tale that sucks you in, keeping you legitimately interested in the characters and story the whole way through. One of the points that gets stressed is the importance of stories in our lives, how they can shape culture, politics, and our own development. Like Doc said, it really is a English major’s wet dream, not only in the “I wish I’d thought of that department”, but also because it explores how and why certain authors works hit the world like a bomb. Rudyard Kipling, Mary Shelly, Arthur Conan Doyle, and more, all tied together in the pages of "Unwritten". Plus Carey put in an amusing quip about Oscar Wilde making Bosie "stand at attention", which should amuse any of Wilde's fans.

               The art by Peter Gross is a perfect complement to the tale, detailed enough to reflect the gritty reality of the tale, but with inks smooth and crisp, giving it a certain picturesque fantasy feel that matches the larger than life fairy tale aspects. The page layouts are nothing new, but they utilize the space given quite well, marking Gross' ability to deliver all the important details, without it seeming cramped composition wise. Excellent detail has been paid to the backgrounds, particularly concerning real life locations, such as Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and the Ferris Wheel marked London skyline. A large nod must also be given to colorists Chris Chuckry and Jeanne McGee, who's color choices can provide a bright, popping fantasy, a grim, blood soaked nightmare, or a aged, historic scene, depending on the needs of the story. The cover work of Yuko Shimizu certainly match the dark whimsy of the tale within, taking visual cues from the literary tropes focused on in "Unwritten", giving the feeling of a deep, psychological thriller.

               This being a review, I usually try and find something I didn't like about the comic. Honestly, there's not much I can complain about in this particular issue. The story is immediately grabbing, the characters interesting, the whole plot wrapped in a mystery that I can't wait to see revealed. The art is eye popping without being garish, and fits the story from beginning to end. My only real beef is that in some instances, the letterer decided to go with a cursive font to reflect a handwritten feel. This would probably not be a problem at all if I'd paid attention in Third Grade cursive lessons, so I can't even really complain about that. All in all, "The Unwritten" is a wholly solid comic, well worth investing the time into its 4 volumes, as well as its continued issues.

TL;DR : ART IS GOOD, STORY IS AMAZING, GO READ IT, YOU BOOZED UP CRETIN.