Land of Never #2 – All Grown Up

The search for the “Floating Man” ramps up. Jim Hoke’s daughter Wendy went missing, off to the Land of Never. Disgraced, Jim knows what he saw the night Wendy was taken, even if no one believes him. After discovering a community of grieving families all targeted by the same legendary cryptid, Jim finally has a lead: The Floating Man. Hunting a creature of myth takes more than just obsession. Is Jim ready to learn how deep the rabbit hole goes?

This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!

Creative Team

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artists: Miguel Mora
Color Artist: Fares Maese
Letterer: Micah Myers
Cover Artist: Miguel Mora

Writing

I never thought there would be a way to tell a dark version of the Peter Pan story, but Steve Orlando has done a wonderful job. While you may recognize some of the character names in this story, Orlando does a wonderful job capturing the crime noir vibe. The story doesn’t shy away from being obviously inspired by Peter Pan but makes it clear this is not the same happy Peter Pan story you get from Disney.

The story is really addictive. Jim seems to grow more sure of himself in each issue as he learns more and more people share experiences similar to his. Wendy is not just a damsel in distress but a smart woman capable of making calculated decisions and playing the long game. Together with Mora’s dark yet stunning art, Orlando is crafting a story that makes for a deep, visceral rendition of a classic story.

Art

Miguel Mora and Fares Maese do so much to help this story breathe and come to life. The line work in this series has been phenomenal, helping pull you away from what you may know about the classic Peter Pan story and reminding you that this story isn’t that. This is a world that is dark, grimy, and at times downright wicked. Mora manages to strike the right balance between what you see of a character versus what is left to your imagination.

Fares Maese helps pull you into the story through the colors. The cooler tones and darker colors help sell the crime noir/psychological thriller vibe and set the mood right out of the gate. The colors create a point where you feel a little gritty after reading this series, almost as if you need a shower. Maese’s colors help the story send a shiver down your spine in the best way.

Final Thoughts

I love that this series takes something in Peter Pan that many people are familiar with and just flips it on its head. It feels in some ways like your favorite psychological thriller, but in other ways like your favorite procedural crime show with the cop willing to do anything to solve the crime. It strikes the right balance between the two with a compelling narrative and gritty art.

Overall Grade: 9.5 / 10

What did you think about this issue Land of Never? Let me know in the comments