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We have all seen the double-edged sword that is the advancement of technology. For example, the internet can make access to information more accessible than ever but also make it far more effortless to spread lies and falsehoods to fuel a personal or political agenda. Well with the comic Evermind, we see how a tool that makes a little girl’s dream of being a princess realized also be used by the Military Industrial Complex to make war even deadlier.
At the center of this is Lucas Zhang the creator of NeuroLink which is a complex program that allows you to upload your consciousness into any instrument one could imagine. This breakthrough has made him a world-renowned scientist, but just because the world knows you does not mean your daughter wants anything to do with you.
One thing I appreciated about this first issue is how the story was centered on a father and daughter before it got into the complexity of the world and the multitude of different conflicts. It is a rather heartbreaking moment that drives much of Lucas throughout the rest of the issue. At first, he appears cold and distant but slowly as the story progresses we see him question the direction his invention is going giving him a bit of depth despite how packed of an issue this is regarding the plot.
That was a concern as the story kept moving and the characters kept increasing. I worried we would have a classic case of too many ideas. Luckily here despite a larger cast of characters, everything remains a reflection of the main idea driving this story. What is going on in the Theme Park is directly related to these military missions, which makes the power of this invention all that scarier.
We get these small moments that make these connections clear without overdoing the obvious. A young girl’s trip to a Fairy Land turns bad to present the potential of chaos. It is akin to watching the opening of Westworld and G.I. Joe at the same time anticipating them to come together.
Sean Chen is a veteran in this industry and you can see that in how he manages this comic from a story and art standpoint. He is the type of artist who takes the time to do the small things right consistently in order to make the story flow so naturally. Quality establishing shots as we move scene to scene to place you right into the specific moment, which is vital with how much is being juggled here.
He is also a natural storyteller. The camera is always on the move keeping scenes that are dialog-heavy crisp and intriguing. Perhaps best exemplified in the early scene with his daughter that frames the crash of a mug perfectly. He can also draw anything from people to Mechs to giant pink gorilla mechs. His plate is full and we get to eat.
I was most impressed with how well-constructed the structure of this issue was. Characters are established and developed, the concept is introduced and clear, and plenty of breadcrumbs are left amping up anticipation for what is coming next. Fundamentals can be boring to point out but this issue demonstrates why they are important yielding a great comic.
If interested check out the Kickstarter: here.