What is a song if not a spell? Its words transform, its meaning transcends, and its impact is immeasurable. For Image Comics’ one-shot Closer, written by Kieron Gillen with art from Steve Lieber and Tamra Bonvillain, that song is “(They Long To Be) Close To You.” Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and made famous by the Carpenters’ 1970 cover, the song tells the story of a lover admiring their partner’s ability to attract the metaphorical attention of birds and stars. Closer takes this song and twists it, turning it into a manipulative spell used by a controlling partner, a perfectly horrible perversion of the beautiful ballad.
I originally picked up Closer because it has Gillen’s name on the front. After masterpieces like Wicked + Divine, DIE, and Immortal X-Men, Gillen is an undeniably brilliant voice in the world of comics, and I am hard-pressed not to pick up something he wrote. Of course, I was also excited about Lieber’s gorgeous art and Bonvillain’s color (especially after the masterful coloring work Tamra did in Gillen’s Once & Future). Closer is not exactly new; it is actually a collection of the 3-part short story serialized in Image! 30th Anniversary Anthology #7 – 9, transformed into an easy-to-read one-shot.
I gotta be honest… when I first finished Closer, before I really reflected on it, I was thinking I would give it a review of around 8.0. It was good, and pretty, but did not necessarily scratch the “cosmic horror” itch the solicit brought on. Thankfully, I read Kieron Gillen’s wonderful afterword and listened to “(They Long To Be) Close To You.” It is rare that a comic truly travels with you from the page into the real world. This is a special feeling that is reserved for special comics. The fact that Closer inspired me to search out the song and listen to it was exciting enough in and of itself, but then after listening to the song, I went back and re-read the one-shot, and WOW did that make it ever better.
I don’t want to give too much away about the plot of Closer itself, since it’s only one issue, and spoilers would ruin the vibes. I will give a recommendation, though: Read Closer without listening to “Close To You,” sit with the story for a bit, listen to the song, and then re-read it. I think seeing this “romance” through my own lens, and then the lens of Bacharach’s song, really enhanced my experience and made the comic way more special. Gillen’s musings at the end of the book also offer a fun glimpse into what could have been, with Kieron reflecting on the various pathways he could have gone down in the comics industry.
Don’t go into Closer expecting hard sci-fi cosmic horror; you will be disappointed. Gillen himself refers to the story as “soft-edge fantasy.” In an “Apocalyptic Romance” like Closer, your protagonist isn’t going to get all the answers, and neither are you. This quick, enjoyable read is a reflection on a single moment, expanded beyond the cosmos into a world-ending threat. If you enjoy Gillen’s writing, Lieber’s art, or great music, I highly recommend reading Closer. And don’t forget to add “(They Long To Be) Close To You” to your Spotify playlist. I promise it will be stuck in your head by the time you finish reading.
