The final Horizon Experiment one-shot is out this week with Finders//Keepers, a reverse Indiana Jones. Leading the story is Puerto Rican archeology grad student Ines Guarua, who wants to take the artifacts back to their origins and where they belong. It’s a strong premise in The Horizon Experiment‘s ultimate goal to lift original protagonists from marginalized backgrounds you don’t usually get to see.
Finders//Keepers opens with Ines arguing with her grandmother about leaving Puerto Rico for college. Her grandmother worries she’ll lose herself in a world that’s not her home, but she must go, and she does. We then see her working as a museum intern, giving her an inside look at the types of rich folk who do some wheeling and dealing. It’s immoral and wrong, and Ines won’t let it stand.
From there, the story opens up about the artifact, its importance, and its mystical ties to her people and home. A strong case is made for why cultural artifacts should stay at their birthplace and how their importance is largely tied to the place. However, if you remove the context of the origin and its people, is the artifact even worth anything?
Incredible page.
Credit: Image
Artist Skylar Patridge outdoes herself with the mystical reveal of a creature that’s at once beautiful and horrifying. It’s an element akin to the fantastical climaxes of Indiana Jones, reminding us there’s something more to this mortal coil than stealing artifacts. These scenes use black gutters to capture the night scenes well but also cast a kind of ominous vibe over the situation.
Great design (or data pages) are thrown into the visual mix, which enhances realism and world-building. Notes by Ines detailing her resume for the internship, her plan to scoop up the artifact, and a fun way to end the book I won’t spoil. The way this issue ends, one could easily see a miniseries spin out of this. It’s a strong contender for all the Horizon Experiment titles.
My only gripe is the general pace and flow. The story meanders a bit, with heavier dialogue scenes dropping key information. I lost my patience at times, though the story feels fulfilling by the end.
Finders//Keepers is a standout entry in The Horizon Experiment line, delivering a fresh perspective on archeological adventures with a rich cultural lens and striking visuals. While pacing issues hold it back slightly, it’s a fulfilling one-shot that leaves you wanting more from this world.
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