Comic Vine Review
0 CommentsMind the Gap #1 - Intimate Strangers Part 1 Review
5by Tony 'G-Man' Guerrero on
A new series from Jim McCann full of mystery and gorgeous art and color. You'll immediately get pulled in as you'll want to know where the clues will lead the story to next.
There have been many new comic book series hitting the shelves lately. What's great is when you immediately see the full potential the series contains.
The Good
It's safe to say that most people enjoy a good mystery along with a well written story. Jim McCann has proven over the recent years that he has the ability to tell a compelling story. When familiar creators take a shot at telling stories with original characters, a different set of challenges arise. The writer has to grab the new reader's attention and interest immediately when popular established characters are not present. This is something that McCann is able to do.
First issues of new series often face the problem of balancing the storytelling along with the introduction of the characters. The decision has to be made on how much action will be present compared with setting up the entire series. Within the first four pages, we're introduced to most of the major players. Without shoving information down our throats, the few panels for each is more than enough to give us an idea who these characters are and how they'll fit into the story.
As for the story itself, it's a giant mystery. We come into the mystery already in progress. A young women was attacked. Why she was attacked, by whom and why she was even where the attack happened are just some of the questions that arise. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that this isn't a simple attack. There is a much larger story hidden beneath the surface. McCann hints at some of the clues present throughout the issue. This is definitely one you'll want to read multiple times to try and catch all the clues and details. Throw in the fact that this is 48 pages for just $2.99 and you know you're in for quite a treat.
Let's not forget the art and colors by Rodin Esquejo and Sonia Oback. They are a sight to be seen. Another crucial element when a comic features brand new characters is the look of them and the overall vibe of the issue. Aside from the compelling story, the art is something you'll want to look at as well. We get some non-standard perspectives throughout the issue that further separates this from other books. Shots looking down or up at the characters adds a fresh feeling to the story telling rather than the simply pulled back view we usually see. The way the colors mesh together with the art almost makes it feel like the art has special effects added to it. Because the story takes place within the mind of the main character and in a world full of unanswered questions, the art needs to convey that eerie feeling and Esquejo and Oback succeed at setting it all up.
The Bad
Nothing bad. The trick in future issues will be to give us answers without dragging out the story. McCann has stated that we will indeed be getting answers along with even more questions along the way.
The Verdict
If you're looking for something different with a great story and great art, MIND THE GAP is an issue you'll want to check out. There are so many new creator-owned titles hitting the shelves and Jim McCann begins to show us the ideas he's had locked away. With a new series, this is obviously a perfect jumping on point. The story is full of mystery and having us jump in just after the action begins helps to place us in a state of confusion as well. Often readers become privy to what is going on and it's not often we get to take part in trying to sift through the clues to uncover the secrets contained. This is the type of comic you'll want to come back for month after month to see what new developments arise. The fact that this issue is 48 pages for only $2.99 is another reason the issue should be checked out (not that you should need another reason). MIND THE GAP is a breath of fresh air in terms of new comics. It's this kind of variety that continues to make reading stacks of comics each week fun and exciting.
