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Alice Never After #1 – Boom! Studios
Creative Team: Dan Panosian, Giorgio Spalletta and Fabiana Mascolo
Welcome to another New Comic Book Day review from the NI Bullpen!
This is NOT your Disney version of Alice In Wonderland. Alice Never After #1 is the first issue in the sequel series for last year’s Alice Ever After series from the same creative team. Providing readers with a continuation of Dan Panosian’s twisted fantasy following a young girl dealing with trauma, mental illness and substance issues. All the while, he gives us a world that feels both familiar and new, all at the same time.
Let’s jump in and check out Alice Never After #1
***POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD***
London
Alice is a girl dealing with a lot of issues. Years of childhood trauma and mental illness are taking a toll, and her use of psychedelics to enter Wonderland has caused even more problems.
The story begins after the defeat of the Queen of Hearts and the banishment of the Cheshire Cat at the end of Alice Ever After.
In the real world, Alice is currently under the care of her sister Edith. From the dialogue alone on the first page, we can clearly see that Alice is not doing well. She has become prone to bouts of vomiting. On top of that he mental state has deteriorated to a severe extent.
Edith and her husband discuss how Alice’s condition is possibly irreversible after what Mistress Hulda and Doctor Madsen did to her in the events of Alice Ever After. Edith, however, refuses to give up on her sister.
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Wonderland
Meanwhile, Alice is enjoying a tea party in Wonderland with her friends including the Mad Hatter, White Rabbit and many others. As always, the White Rabbit is running late. Late for tea with Alice and his friends, and late for…something else.
Just as the group is beginning a philosophical debate over the morality of cheating while playing croquet, the Rabbit has to leave just as soon as he arrives. As Alice is trying to find out what is so important that he must leave so urgently, the Rabbit is gone.
Alice, having determined to discover where the Rabbit has gone, excuses herself from the tea party in order to find her friend. Instead of the White Rabbit, she runs into Caterpillar. She proceeds to have a rather…fruitless conversation with Caterpillar, who is as cryptic and unhelpful as usual.
The “Catalyst War” Is HERE
Questionable Character
Back in the real world, Edith is on her way to another appointment for Alice. This time though, she is meeting with someone at the prison, not a doctor’s office. At the same time, Edith and Alice’s father is on his way to an appointment of his own. Neither of these appointments are with who you would expect.
Rather than consulting another psychiatrist or asylum doctor, Edith is visiting one of her sister’s abusers, Doctor Madsen. This is not to say that the person their father, Dr. Letwidge’s visit is with anyone better. He is at another prison, to meet the “queen of his heart,” and Alice’s other abuser, Mistress Hulda.
Lost In The Woods
We then shift back to Wonderland, where Alice has now become utterly lost in the forest looking for the White Rabbit. Just as she is about to give up and stay put to await a search party from the castle, Dodo appears and offers to lead her back to the tea party since he is going there himself.
While they are walking back to the castle, Dodo relays some information to Alice, that there are reports of a “shadowy figure lurking about.” The rumors are that the shadowy figure is none other than the Cheshire Cat.
Alice Is Back
Back at the castle, Alice’s friends are there to welcome her back with a gift! She is unable to open it at first though, as she begins to complain about a sudden stomach ache. Attempting to help, the Hatter offers a cupcake, which he asserts will “get to the root of the problem.”
No one at the party expected this cupcake to turn Alice into an infant! Just as she is berating the Hatter for turning her into a baby, they are ready with a “Cake Countermeasure” to transform her back to normal. Coincidentally, Alice is also now feeling much better, and is ready to open her gift. She is a bit taken aback by what she discovers inside.
The gift they have given her is a dress. Not just any dress, but the former dress of the Queen of Hearts! They have given this to her because, according to them, Alice is now the new Queen of Hearts in Wonderland.
Story Review
The writing from Panosian moves the story along at a brisk pace. There is not much time spent on world building or rehashing of former story points. We get right into the current story right from the get go.
It’s not a Disney, family friendly Alice In Wonderland story we get here. The plot covers major issues that Alice is facing in regards to dealing with her past trauma and current health and mental problems. He shows Edith as a caring and protective sister who is truly trying to help Alice, while everyone else around her has given up hope of Alcie ever recovering.
The instance of their father meeting and, potentially flirting, with one of his daughter’s abusers is another subject which I’m sure will be fleshed out in the issues to come. Edith meeting with another of Alice’s abusers in Doctor Madsen is also concerning, as we are not told why Edith is there or what is being said yet.
Shifting to when we see Alice’s other reality in Wonderland, he sets us up with a real sense of foreboding, noting the rumors of dark figures lurking about. Combine that with the possibility of the Cheshire Cat’s return, and Alice being crowned the new Queen of Hearts and we are in for a twisted exciting journey full of fantasy, mystery and terror.
Artwork Overview
The interior artwork from Panosian (London) and Segala (Wonderland and Coloring) and the lettering of Jeff Ecleberry combine to create something truly special.
While in London, everything feels grounded and even. The colors are more muted and less vibrant, showing off the Victorian era influence behind the original story. Compare that with the design of Wonderland and we see something very different.
While the general style feels the same, the colors are brighter (or darker depending on the tone in the moment) and the characters are much more whimsical in design and style. The change of color palette while Alice is lost in the forest, only adds to the feeling of unease that is slowly building throughout the issue.
Overall Score: 9 OUT OF 10 – “MUST PULL”
If you are looking for a break from the superhero genre of comic books I really can’t recommend this new series enough. It tackles some serious issues while at the same time giving a compelling, fun story for readers. I hope you all enjoyed this review of Alice Never After #1 from Boom! Studios!
Make sure to check this out on New Comic Book Day this week at your local comic book shop!
As always everyone, Be Safe, Be Kind, and Take It Easy!
