“Prima Apparata #1” Review – A Wonder Beyond Measure

The Run Down

It isn’t everyday that you come across something you’ve never truly seen before. In Olivia Dufault’s “Prima Apparata”, that’s exactly what you get. Set in a universe where our Earth was shattered and we survive amongst the stars, Dufault takes us on a journey involving ballet, mechs and the goddess Appolyta. Will friends Mar and Rhea survive in this strange, sci-fi world of cutthroat performance? Or will they drown in indoctrination? Well, find out alongside Eddie and I as we take a look at “Prima Apparata #1”.

Writer: Olivia Dufault
Artist: Rebekah Isaacs
Colorist: Marissa Louise
Letterer: Becca Carey

The Writing

Eddie: Mar is a girl looking for her place in the world. Her passion is dance and she dreams of dancing on the largest stage possible. She befriends another girl, Rhea, with a rebellious spirit. All of this sounds like the dream of any other young girls, but their lives and the lives of many others may depend on how they dance on a stage of cosmic proportions. That’s the premise of “Prima Apparata #1” from Ignition Press, written by Olivia Dufault and illustrated by Rebekah Isaacs. This is an unconventional and intriguing science fiction story.

Olivia Dufault’s writing drives a world of dichotomies. The focus of the story is on the relationship between Mar and Rhea, creating a small and intimate narrative taking place in a world of massive scale. The idea that lives could depend on something we see as so pure and innocent as dance is compelling.

Eda: While I was reading, I couldn’t help but get the sense that this story is going to be more than about dance to save the universe. Due to some of the dialogue and how Mar and Rhea interact, I was getting themes of sisterhood, figuring out one’s place and what it truly means to be a woman in a dystopian society. With those themes having been tackled in media before, how Dufault goes about it feels like a breath of fresh air. Not only does she manage to bring in the aforementioned themes, but she shows a diverse array of women in terms of background and personality.

Dufault also managed to bring a sense of body horror to this story. Something many women experience and go through are things related to our bodies and how we live with them. While not all of us have the same experiences, it’s a shared commonality nonetheless due to how society treats and views us. I feel as if this was represented both tragically and beautifully, showing that this is the norm, even when it shouldn’t be, and how society views those of us that reject it. Dufault is truly onto something remarkable with this and I can’t wait for more.

The Art

Eddie: Rebekah Isaacs’ art fully embraces the world Dufault’s writing is creating. We feel the emotions between Mar and Rhea. We see the pains they undergo to just get through life. We understand the scale and stake of everything involved. Their combined work is effortlessly cohesive and powerful.

Eda: The art power duo of Rebekah Isaacs and Marissa Louise absolutely delivered a top notch performance. As Eddie said, Isaacs brilliantly brought Dufault’s world to life. Through the visuals alone, it becomes easy to see the scale and emotion of what’s transpiring. She somehow manages to perfectly balance this while keeping things central and focused. With that being said, there was one point in particular where I had to stop and go “wow, this is gorgeous”.

That’s helped all the more by the colors of Marissa Louise. What she managed to do here is simply wonderful. With how she colored each page, everything manages to have a very classic sci-fi look and feel, like something you’d see in an episode of “Cowboy Bebop”. I’ve always been a massive lover of this coloring style, and I’m absolutely obsessed.

Final Thoughts

Eddie: I’m truly intrigued by the story Dufault and Isaacs are crafting. “Prima Apparata” is a unique story with unlimited possibilities to offer readers. This is definitely for science fiction fans looking for something truly original.

Eda: I truly don’t know how else to describe “Prima Apparata” so far other than uniquely perfect. Creators this year are continuing to bring new and different ideas to various mediums and Dufault is no different. If you’re in need a female-centric sci-fi tale that feels like a breath of fresh air, let “Prima Apparata” be that. You won’t walk away disappointed.

Eddie’s Grade: 9.5/10
Eda’s Grade: 9.5/10
Overall Grade: 9.5/10

For Eddie’s video review, check out the Nerd Initiative YouTube channel and WretchedHiveComics on Instagram!

For more from me, read more here and check out my socials!

Comments

Does “Prima Apparata” sound right up your alley? Are you a fan of Dufault’s previous work? Let’s discuss in the comments below!