Comic Review: Gideon Falls #17

Gideon Falls #17

Image Comics

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Andrea Sorrentino

Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino return with yet another brilliant addition to Gideon Falls. While everything from the art to the characters is spot on, it’s lovely to finally get an issue that had some type of physical tether for this cast of characters.

Story:

While we start with the now expected mind-bending experience within the Black Barn and the horrible creature, there is, as there always has been, another piece to the puzzle. Sure, the panels blur and break. Colors fade and darkness replaces them, mouths and teeth and monsters are formed as someone falls deeper into the abyss. However, the narrative rights itself and latches on to the plotline of Father Fred and Dr. Xu. While it seems as though reads will be left with more questions, the issue finally anchors Father Fred and DR. Xu in a time and place. For me, this is a relief, as I’ve been wanting some type of foundation in this comic, which is, at times nebulous. While the comic features Fred and Xu, it also gives ample time to Clara and Norton (a.k.a Danny). The plot seems to flow in, out, and between timeframes and space.

Character:

Seventeen issues in, and for the first time I felt as though I knew every one of them easily. This might sound like a lot of issues of a comic to read before grasping, intuitively, the cast, but with so much space/time flex in previous arcs, characters do get muddied in a reader’s mind. Now, however, motives, actions, and emotional truths seem second nature, and while nothing profound in character development strikes in this issue, it finally feels as the foundation of these people has been firmly established. Hopefully, soon we’ll get some answers.

Art:

What else is there to say about an artist who so keenly captures the lurking and existential dread of a story like Gideon Falls? Andrea Sorrentino’s linework is perfect for this transdimensional story of space and time. Not only do characters look and feel real, but the lurking horror of the unknown is behind their every expression. This is, essentially, the story of the horrors of an unknown world. Sorrentino helps create this with concrete images and mind-melting panel mashes. Special attention should also be paid to the colorist in this issue as well. Dave Stewart uses some ghastly and unpleasant colors and color combinations that catch and draw the eye in ways I’ve not experienced before. Everything about This comic is a triumph. It’s no surprise to me it won an Eisner for “Best New Series.”