I always say there’s a comic for everyone. It’s a medium that lends itself to so many different styles, stories, and worlds. Anything can happen. Even with an infinite possibilities, it feels great discovering a comic you think is truly unique. It feels like a story and a world you’ve never entered before. Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is that type of comic for me.
Taking place in California, Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 follows a team of firefighters who are prisoners. This is a thing in the state where prisoners can help fight fires as a job and get paid very little for risking their lives. This particular group is of five women, four convicts and the officer in charge. While the comic could be amazing just focused on a group fighting forest fires (a story that is not a common one in comics), this takes it a bit further by turning it into a heist as well. A house with a massive fortune is nearby and one of the women is connected to it, opening up an opportunity to go rob it.
Written by Scott Snyder, Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is a hell of a start. The story is narrated by one of the team members. We know how it ends. The question is how did things get to that point? Snyder delivers a tale of tragedy on multiple fronts and one where I don’t expect what’s presented in the beginning to be what the ending actually is. But, it could be, and that’s part of the interesting tale being weaved. There is a sad aspect about the whole concept, the exploitation of the workers, the hinted at ending. But, it’s still a heist story and Snyder knows the beats to hit to make it an exciting one.
The art by Hayden Sherman is amazing. The page layouts are fantastic and this is a comic you’ll want to get a physical copy of. There’s a spread towards the end of the issue that is jaw-dropping and will leave you lingering to get every small detail. The color by Ronda Pattison is fantastic playing off the yellow, orange, and red of the fire. The lettering by Andworld Design adds to the haunting narrative.
Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is a hell of a start with amazing art and a very unique concept. It shows off Snyder’s talents as he moves away from the fantastical and horror to a more grounded story. His framing of the story and issue are top notch and mixed with art that will blow you away, this is a hell of a start and an issue that’s a must get.
Story: Scott Snyder Art: Hayden Sherman
Color: Ronda Pattison Letterer: Andworld Design
Story: 8.75 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy
IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – TFAW – comiXology/Kindle
Source: Graphic Policy
