JOYRIDE #1 Advanced Review

Script By:  Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly
Art By:  Marcus To
Colors By:  Irma Kniivila
Letters By:  Jim Campbell
Publisher:  BOOM! Studios

“Wanna get away?”  This isn’t just a Southwest Airlines slogan.  It is also the overarching theme in BOOM! Studios’ Joyride from creators Marcus To, Jackson Lanzing, and Collin Kelly.  Teens Uma and Dewydd want to escape their life of isolation and see the stars.  Literally.  Earth is enclosed in a protective sphere to keep the evil aliens away.

That doesn’t sit too well with free-spirited Uma.  I’d love to have Uma as a friend.  The energy that Lanzing and Kelly fill her with is infectious.  She refuses to be deterred.  And Uma can sling insults with the best of them.

Not to be overlooked is her friend Dewydd.  How is that pronounced anyway?  Like “Dude?”  Anyway, Dewydd is the hard-working local celebrity.  He’s the perfect opposite to Uma.  One thing that confused me about Dewydd is when they are sneaking aboard the SafeSky (great design btw, which I’ll get to later).  Right when Uma is about to be busted for sneaking aboard, Dewydd vouches for her and the guards let her through.  A guard refers to Dewydd as “Systech 438.”  It’s never explained what that means.

Now back to the SafeSky design.  Marcus To takes what could be a generic space center and uses it as part of the storytelling.  As we get a wide shot of SafeSky, To incorporates its layout to connecting panels.  As readers follow the word balloons and panels, we’re also traveling along the SafeSky.

When it comes to complimenting special effects in comics, I never know whether to praise the letterer or the artist.  What I will say is there are clever KICK’s and THUD’s sprinkled in the story.  They added extra humor to an already enjoyable comic.

What I CAN confidently praise is the art as the second half of the book takes place in space.  There is a splash page of Uma, Dewydd and Private First Class Cosanova on the moon that is awe-inspiring.  You have the pure joy on Uma’s face, joined by bewilderment from Dewydd and Cosanova.  The background looks like it was snapped from a telescope.  It captures the vastness of space.

Any good comic has to have a compelling supporting cast.  Catrin Cosanova and Bot fill that quota nicely.  I’m intrigued by Bot, who I initially thought was an eight-armed alien.  Instead he’s an eight-armed robot that speaks in symbols.  I’m already anxious to see more.

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE