The Good
Kate Kristopher is on a wild adventure, and we are too, as SHUTTER spirals stranger and stranger (and hints at more layers of mystery) with every page. This series drops one surprise after another, and the Kristopher siblings are clearly unlike anything we've seen before.
It's totally appropriate that the protagonist of SHUTTER is a photographer, because this book is all about the visuals. Every page features active, captivating illustrations, and Leila Del Duca is quickly climbing my favorite-artists list. I'm stunned by how much she's able to pack into a single panel without getting distracting. She's clever and versatile, bringing a totally strange world to life and juxtaposing several wildly different styles of characters and environments.
I'm also really into how lettering is being handled on this book; it's clean and thoughtful, but a hint more adventurous than some other titles. The changes in typeface really help keep things readable and organized amidst fast-paced sequences, and none of the balloons intrude on Del Duca's gorgeous illustrations. In short? Ed Brisson nails it.
The Bad
I'll be honest: I am thoroughly confused by the parameters of this story world. I can't tell what's out of the ordinary and what's normal-weird. I like weird, but I also like being able to get a sense of the setting, so it's a little bit frustrating when those cues are absent.
The Verdict
SHUTTER has definitely piqued my curiosity; it's a completely different world from anything else in comics right now, and there's so much to unpack. It's also fantastic to look at; I'm truly fascinated by Leila Del Duca's imaginative pages. They're bold, they're high-energy, and they're just so full of amazing details that I want to see what's next.
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