An ordinary teenage girl becomes stranded in a very extraordinary world in the All-New, All-Different Weirdworld #1, brought to us by the team of writer Sam Humphries and artist Mike Del Mundo.
Is it good?
Weirdworld #1 (Marvel Comics)
Weirdworld was re-introduced during Secret Wars as a Savage Land-type place where things from Earth get lost; a gutter of a place that’s at once dangerous, exotic and fantastic. Its Conan-esque, barbarian hero Arkon could barely keep himself alive and it looks to be about the same over in Black Knight too. This issue opens on a girl who just survived an airplane crash but instead of landing on Earth she’s in… a very weird place indeed.
Why does this book matter?
The unique art by Mike Del Mundo has been carefully crafted for some time now; starting in Elektra last year and being honed into the magnificent work you see here today. His interesting use of blurs and inspired color effects combine to make Weirdworld like nothing else on the stands today. Heck, the color is so damn amazing it takes Del Mundo and Marco D’Alfonso to get it right.
On top of that the world of Weirdworld promises every fairy tale/nightmare fusion you can imagine. “Crystal Warriors! Wizardslayers with muscle cars! Catbeasts that spit fire! The queen of sinister sorcery Morgan Le Fay! All this and more await Becca around every corner. Can [Becca] make it home in one piece? Or is she Weirdworld’s newest permanent resident?”
Creepy good.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
This issue opens with Becca, who much like the audience has no idea what is going on or where she is. Sam Humphries writes her with a good amount of wit and crackerjack charm as she rolls with the dangers, thinking of Spider-Man quality retorts the entire time. It helps make the fantastical and dangerous elements going on around her seem even more surreal. You’d think making it out of a plane crash is hard enough, but not until you see what Humphries has in store for her.
The characters inner monologue is fun.
From there the issue reveals a fantastic supporting character that’s one part Conan and two parts Deadpool and I mean that in a very good way. The character is funny and easy to enjoy right off the bat. Humphries introduces other characters with a villainous slant that are slightly comical, but also foreboding. In a few short pages you’ll love every character introduced.
The overall story is intriguing as well. Humphries doesn’t stop at “lost girl in a magical world” with the premise but introduces an interesting twist for her mission going forward. You won’t see it coming, but you’ll love it when it does appear on the last page.
The art is without a doubt jaw dropping good stuff. Del Mundo and D’Alfonso really make Weirdworld lush and alive. The color choices are very bright and otherworldly with interesting vines, mists and undergrowth thrown in to make it all come together. The monsters and creatures are fantastic too with different sorts of looks and weirdness to them that make them rival anything you’ve seen in a fantasy movie.
It can’t be perfect can it?
Funny, interesting, compelling… yeah, it’s pretty damn close to it.
That dude is freaky!
Is It Good?
Come with a big imagination because you’ll need it to keep up with this compelling story and fantastical ride.
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