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Creative Team
Writer: Mark Sable; Artist: Jeremy Haun; Colorist: Nick Filardi; Letterer/Designer: Thomas Mauer; Logo: Jeremy Haun; Created by: Mark Sable & Jeremy Haun.
Boxed, from ComiXology Originals
We currently live in a world where we still feel like we’re recovering from a pandemic. Meanwhile, interacting with AI has become a daily routine. This graphic novel, Boxed, took these two issues and turned them into a (semi) futuristic science fiction thriller filled with Greek mythology references, flip phones, and a cliffhanger ending.
The Story for Volume 1
This story kicks off with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) redirecting public transit to a hospital because someone was ill. This was done via an Artificial Intelligence (AI) programming to help prevent a pandemic. Said AI, named Hippocrates, has also disabled any communications to and from the false imprisoned passengers. This is allegedly in an attempt to prevent panic, and assure public safety. Oddly however, the thing that struck me as the most off in this opening scene was it’s set in 2045, and someone is using a flip phone.
We then meet our main character Frank, who appears to have a strange and complicated relationship with AI. Specifically an AI properly named Pandora, who has been “Boxed.” Frank Savage is a special agent for the Rapid Response AI Division. He stopped a potentially dangerous AI, named Prometheus, 10 years prior and his services look to be needed again.
Throughout the story Frank is conflicted on who and what he can trust, including himself. No one seems to know right away if Hippocrates is actually preventing a pandemic, or if it needs to be shut down (and can it be shut down). Frank then decides to talk to someone or something: Pandora. As he ‘unboxes’ Pandora, we learn more about Frank and how truly complicated his relationship with AI is. As this story unfolds, more issues come to light, and we’re left wondering if Pandora’s box should have been opened.
The Art
You can’t have a great comic story without fantastic art. It moves the story along, and when done right the words and the art compliment each other better than chocolate and peanut butter. The art in Boxed, did just that. While showing the concern and confusion on our characters’ faces, it also showcased the AI technology beautifully inside and out. Whether we were watching a bus full of passengers, or the outside of a very complicated AI system, every page was perfectly detailed.
Boxed volume 1 Rating: 8.25/10
The conflict on the morals of AI mixed with the proper protocols on handling a pandemic are relevant issues I naively did not expect to see in my lifetime. While this story is science fiction, it makes you think because these are issues we are seeing today, just on a smaller scale. Nevertheless, how long until we get there? And, is the means always justified by the end?
Overall, this is a fantastic story filled with real issues, moral dilemmas, and a ton of Greek mythology symbolism. I hope to learn more about Prometheus in volume 2. Naming the previously destroyed AI, Prometheus, can’t be a coincidence. He was the Greek god who brought fire to the humans and was punished by the other Gods for doing so. Therefore, are the humans the Gods in this story, or are the conveniently named AIs? Either way, if AI and moral dilemmas fascinate you, and you want an enjoyable story that makes you think, add Boxed to your pull list.
Lauren is half of Hops GEEK News: a weekly podcast that discusses all things geek pop culture, while enjoying a craft beer of the week. They also interview many different people from the comic book world and beyond.
