Comic Review: Primordial #1

 Primordial #1

Image Comics

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Andrea Sorrentino

A new comic book written by Jeff Lemire? It’s drawn by Andrea Sorrentino? It’s set during the Cold War with a vague sci-fi premise? Is it Christmas already? Sign me up. The initial solicits for Primordial #1 were enough to sell me with minimal questions asked, and I know in the end this will be something great. Granted, it’s not quite there yet, but the pieces in play are compelling enough that I look forward to seeing how it develops.

It’s difficult to say anything of substance about Jeff Lemire that hasn’t already been said. Saying he’s one of the most consistently great writers out there is understating it, as it implies he isn’t constantly raising the bar and making it look easy. He’s perfected his scarcity of words in a way that doesn’t detract from the substance at all. In fact, it only enhances it. His books, for my money, serve as the template for great comic books.

Now, as solid as the writing is, there isn’t a whole lot to grab on to story wise. There are compelling elements, like the hints of espionage and historical backdrop, but so far, we don’t know much more than what the solicits already told us. In fact, I’d argue we know less than what we’ve already been told. It’s a bit of a slow start. A well written and compelling slow start, I admit, but one that just barely even scratches the surface of it’s premise. Had I not known the pitch before reading, perhaps I wouldn’t feel like I was missing out on something. As it stands, I enjoyed reading it, and this team obviously knows how to craft great comics, but I need a little more to chew on before I go and name it an instant classic.

I’ve been a fan of Andrea Sorrentino for a while now. His style is super recognizable, and even in this book he demonstrates a wide range of ability. The style for the first big chunk of the book vs the last few pages is like night and day, and I like seeing him stretch his muscles in that way. However, I began to bump up against something about that I first noticed back on Gideon Falls. He does these amazing and creative page layouts that are visually astounding. At the same time, I struggle with what he’s trying to convey. It’s not on every page, but on occasion he goes very far out there and really flexes his talent, and the storytelling suffers. It’s impressive, but it’s esoteric to a degree that I either don’t have the knowledge or time to unpack.

Primordial #1 does a lot right, and at the same time leaves something to be desired. Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino are a dynamite team who have proven themselves time and time again, so I have no doubt this story will develop into something special. As it stands it’s gorgeous, compelling, and has an amazing premise. The art is not without issues, but the talent is undeniable. Keep your eye on this one.