What is imagination? It’s a question resting at the heart of Syzmon Kudranski’s Something Epic. Does not being able to see something make it any less real? How does imagination shape the world around us? Something Epic is a beautifully drawn exploration of the power of our imaginations.
Something Epic is the story of Danny, a fourteen-year-old struggling with his place in the world. Danny, whether he knows it or not, is an Epic, someone who can see beyond the physical world into the realm of imagination, where 8-bit heroes roam alongside skyscraper-climbing monkeys, dragons, and cartoon birds.
“Dreamlike” is the best way to describe Something Epic. From art to characters to pacing, a level of magic feels infused into every aspect of the comic. Creator, writer, and illustrator Kudranski brings this realm of imagination to life by blending art styles in some genuinely stunning splash pages. The world being developed feels vast and ready for exploration and adventure. The Spawn, Doctor Strange, and Punisher artist flexes his muscles as he creates the world(s) around the story’s center, Danny.
Kudranski does a terrific job placing the reader in Danny’s headspace, letting the protagonist’s thoughts flow in (sometimes overly) lengthy monologues about imagination. But, when you feel like Danny might be getting a little indulgent with his inner thoughts, you are quickly reminded that Danny only has these thoughts to keep him company.
As a character, Danny is troubled. Being told you are different from an early age can change how you see yourself. It’s why the book feels so lonely. Danny is isolated from everyone around him, finding solace and peace with books and the strange beings only he can see. The face of the only other character in the story, Danny’s mother, is never shown in full, making him truly alone in the world around him. A world that feels dangerous.
It’s hard to say exactly where Something Epic is going. Danny is definitely a character who, like any fourteen-year-old boy, has a lot of growing to do. While the next chapter of the story isn’t explicit, and the possibilities feel vast, each one feels like it has potential.
On the one hand, Something Epic feels like a grand, beautifully drawn, dreamy exploration into a world full of imagination. On the other hand, it is a tremendously sad look at the loneliness and isolation one can feel when they’re misunderstood. It is both a grand epic and a quiet personal story of a young boy struggling alone. Something Epic is a comic written for all those who have looked to their imagination to escape the world around them.
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