DINNER DATE #1: I’m Sure He Had it Coming.

Online dating is miserable, endless profiles of people pretending to be looking for something real and men putting in minimal effort while being nothing short of grotesque. Syd has been trying to get over her cheating ex, and Izzy is a rideshare driver whose paths cross one night by fate. Could this be the end of dating apps and obnoxious dates, or does love truly just bite?

Creative Team: Joanne Starer, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez, and Andworld Design.

The Story:

I am an absolute sucker for things such as romantic comedies and Hallmark movies, and so when this was announced, I knew I was picking this up no questions asked. Even as a man, the opening pages and various scenes throughout made me cringe at how real I knew these conversations were. Men cannot help but say the worst things and be the scum of the Earth. Whether or not Joanne was speaking from personal experience, the tone was nailed. What truly drew me into this story was the connection between Izzy and Syd. Everything from being shocked that Syd hasn’t seen a certain movie to the way their conversation flowed sucked me into this world. As I said, I am a sucker for rom coms and romantic horrors and things. It’s not all love and games as there is a bloodlust that comes as the tone suddenly changes and gives us a taste of what we can expect going forward.

The Art:

The artwork blew me away; it felt perfectly in line with this world being built and captured the romantic vibe of New York City. The scenes from within the rideshare featured a blurred city backdrop, and the way Khary manipulated these scenes allowed the focus to be on the girls in the car. The way Izzy’s face was almost melting by the men in her vehicle, and the instant glow when Syd got in, was perfection. Emilio’s coloring shone on our characters and gave an easygoing aesthetic in the car. The bright shades of pinks and purples drew me in like a bug to a zapper. The final splash page was an excellent jump scare bringing out a good laugh all at once.

Final Thoughts:

Dinner Date #1 will have you reminiscing about every awful first date with the most insufferable person you’ve ever met while giving us butterflies the second our main characters meet. The artwork is beautiful and inviting, with just the right amount of horror to remind us that this isn’t your everyday love story. Be sure to pick this up!

You’ll be able to find Joanne Starer and Kharey Randolph at NYCC, where you can also find Matt and the Nerd Initiative crew as well, October 8-11! Let us know how you feel about this issue and check out more reviews by Matt!