Whether it’s Total Recall, The Hunger Games, or Snowpiercer, we never get tired of stories that take us on a trip into a dystopian future. Mostly because of the endless possibilities. Eve #1 doesn’t just take us to a new and exciting journey, but its subject matter touches on possibly the most important subject of our time: climate change. Writer Victor Lavelle and artist Jo Mi-Gyeong team up to bring to life a story that has the potential to be epic. Eve #1 delivers a brilliant setup for a voyage of courage, love, fear, and bravery into the unknown.
The story is about Eve, an 11 year-old African American girl who wakes up from a deep sleep in a hibernation chamber to find that the world she remembered is gone. To make matters worse, her dad is missing. The only familiar face comes in the form of a teddy bear named Wexler given to her by her deceased mother. The only thing is, Wexler can walk and talk because he is an android. So far in this issue, we learn that the water levels have risen so high it covers buildings, the air is poisonous and a lot of people may have met their demise because of it. Now Eve and Wexler must go on a quest to find her dad and plant seeds, which may be the key to saving what’s left of the world.
Eve #1 is a perfect walk into unknown territory that I would gladly follow. If the father-daughter dynamic that opens the book doesn’t get you, then you’ll love the emerging chemistry between Eve and her teddy bear Wexler. What’s interesting about the way the story is written is how we as the reader are discovering things simultaneously as Eve. This effect keeps the mystery going as to what exactly happens to the world and where is Eve’s dad. It’s a great choice of the use of perception by Lavelle.
Mi-Gyeong’s illustrations are compelling storytelling at their best. There’s an indescribable sharpness to the line work that gives the characters an energetic breath of life. What I love most about the art is how Mi-Gyeong’s is able to bring out so many of Eve’s emotions. We watch her be happy, sad, confused, sick — everything that helps make the reader feel closer to her. It’ll be interesting to see the obstacles that Mi-Gyeong brings to life to stand in the way of Eve’s effort to restore humanity.
Eve #1 is a triumphant, heartwarming tale that will leave you wanting more. The writing is solid. The artwork is amazing. Lavelle and Mi-Gyeong have a hit on their hands for sure. This is one you won’t want to skip.
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