Comic Vine Review

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Goners #1 - We All Fall Down Part One

4

Prepare to enter a brand new world that's full of paranormal craziness.

The Good

What if the death of your parents was televised so everyone could see it? And what if you were part of a family that defends ordinary people from all of the paranormal dangers that lurk in the world? And what if those threats were now gunning for you while you're dealing with the death of your mom and dad? That's exactly what has happened to Zoe and Josiah Latimer. Now all of the horrific creatures are coming after them -- apparently wanting to end this family once and for all -- and just like the unfortunate brother and sister, we're trying to figure out what's really going on and why.

Co-creators Jacob Semahn and Jorge Corona's debut issue is all about intrigue, mystery, and thrills. There's a few moments where they try to hook our emotions, but it's not long before another name is dropped or another development is teased. New creatures and people quickly enter the picture. It's a fast-paced book and it feels like we're dropping right into the middle of the story. Instead of slowing down the pace with a mountain of exposition, the story keeps moving forward and we need to pick up all of the pieces along the way. When all is said and done, you'll still have plenty of questions about the characters, monsters, abilities, and the way this world operates. For some, that'll keep them curious and motivate them to pick up the next chapter. For others, this may be a little off-putting, especially when working with a tight comic budget. The "wait and see" approach can be expensive, after all. Thankfully, I'm part of the former category and they've captured my interest with all of this fast-paced madness.

I'm loving Jorge Corona (co-creator/artist) and Gabriel Cassata's (colorist) visuals. It's a more animated and jagged look that feels perfect for this world of young characters, creepy creatures, and the occasional display of violence and powers. From flashes of lightning cracking across the sky to glowing eyes to enemies getting obliterated, this is a really good looking book and the artwork is sure to please. The strong inks give clear outlines and it really enhances the style. The consistently fun and cartoon-ish panels are without question the best thing about the book. Even if you're feeling down the middle about the narrative, the art is sure to boost your experience.

The Bad

As said above, the story throws you right into things and never takes that much time to slow down. You're likely going to have a ton of questions after you finish the issue and, despite them suffering a big tragedy, odds are you're not going to have a strong emotional connection to the leads. There's still A LOT to learn about this new world and this can leave you feeling a little in the dark at times. Also, some people may find it funny, but I thought the reporter's comment took away from the splash page. It's such a big event and then that remark was a little distracting and took me out of the moment. However, it is funny that the news has to apologize for the comment, yet it has no problem showing a woman falling to her death, a man being stabbed, and a huge explosion. Whether or not it was intentional, that was a nice little bit of commentary on the industry. "If it bleeds, it leads... but no four letter words!"

The Verdict

GONERS #1's fast-paced story means you probably won't establish an emotional connection to the characters or developments just yet, but odds are it'll leave you asking plenty of questions and have you more than interested enough to see what'll unfold. Plus, Corona and Cassata's visuals? Pure happiness. What ensues may have plenty of violence and darkness, but their work makes it all fun and so animated. The story has my curiosity, but the visuals have me hooked.