- Sight #1
- SHP Comics
- Written by Darin S. Cape
- Illustrated by Jack Purcell
- Letters by Micah Meyers
- Proofreading by Kim Whitener
She Can See the Future… It Isn’t Pretty!
Angelina is an amateur boxer cursed with the ability to see events before they happen. Haunted by visions since childhood, isolated and prone to depression, she survives on the margins of society. But when her visions turn apocalyptic, Angelina is forced to confront a world on the brink of collapse. A brutal and emotionally intense sci-fi thriller.
I love indie comics with a deep, fiery passion that isn’t shared by nearly enough.
There are rough cuts out there, to be sure, but the same could be said about a choice selection of the Marvel or DC lineup. But with independent comics, put together by people who don’t have the security of a corporate umbrella or the oversight that usually goes with it. Because of that lack of adult supervision, readers are treated to some truly creative, evelope-pushing stories.
Take the story of Angelina. We’re familiar with sci fi invasions, with people who know it’s coming, are powerless to stop it, but fight on against the odds and a world not ready for the truth. Sight ain’t that. The impression I get from Angelina is that she’s been marginalized and belittled her whole life, whether because of her gender or her special ability, it’s taught her to stick to the edges and away from most of society. As we join her in the days leading up to the alien invasion she’s seen, rather than working to warn everyone and save the world, Angelina is prepping for her own survival.
Writer Darin S. Cape does a great job of showing Angelina’s self-imposed emotional exile. She obviously doesn’t feel like a part of the world, so she’s keeping herself apart from it. At this point, that level of disconnect doesn’t necessarily maker her likeable, but there are going to be people relating to her attitude in a big way. Through the magic of comics, Cape swoops in and delivers a strong, relatable character, without worrying about making it a popularity contest.
The artwork, particularly the stylistic choices made by Jack Purcell, is impressive. Like the drab world in which Angelina lives, Sight is mostly monochromatic. Shades of brown, highlighted by sparingly released drops of color, dominate the book and show the lense of mundanity Angelina has forced on herself. The most striking explosions of color come with her visions of past, present, and future. The reader is just flipping along, turning pages and settling in, when a bright blue, jagged-edged panel breaks through the standard grid layout. It’s a fantastic visual cue, working well to keep the reader on their toes.
As a letterer, Micah Meyers hasn’t had much room to stretch and show their chops. The dialogue is placed so it doesn’t interrupt the visuals… not always a gimme in comics… and the panels flow nicely. But so far, the biggest contribution is in a handful of blaring, BOOMING, onomatopoeia. Again, it’s a nice touch as a shouted beacon breaking the overall quiet tone of the book.
Bottom line, Sight #1 is an effective slow-burning intro to what promises to be a high-stakes, end of the world kind of comic. I read it, not really knowing what I was getting into. Suffice to say that I had a great time, once we got past the opening pages and into the meat of both Angelina and the apparently doomed world she lives in.
Final Score: 10/13
