Group Review: Polarity #1
Two group reviews in one week! Hell yeah. Today we’ve got Max Bemis’ debut comic from Boom Studios. We’ve been keeping tabs on this sucker since the beginning so let’s dive into it and find out what the various writers of Comic Bastards think of Polarity #1. Remember, we’ll be reviewing it differently giving it a Buy, Borrow or Pass. Lastly, here’s the description from Boom Studios:
From the mind of SAY ANYTHING frontman Max Bemis comes POLARITY, a manic-depressive trip you'll never forget. Timothy Woods is a bipolar artist stuck in the world of hipsters, meaningless sex, and vain art -- better known as Brooklyn. But after he survives a near fatal car accident, Timothy discovers that his mental instability is more than just a disorder, and that his bipolar medication hasn't just been subduing depression and uncontrollable mania...it's been suppressing his super powers! Now it's time for Timothy to stand up to his disease alongside an onslaught of wretched human villainy as he finally finds his place in the world. Each issue comes with a free download for a new original song written and performed by Max Bemis! Each issue comes with a free download for a new original song written and performed by Max Bemis!
Kevin: Borrow
“All the words in my mouth, that the scene deemed unworthy of letting out, banded together to form a makeshift militia and burrowed bloodily through my tongue and my teeth.”
Yeah it’s kind of like that! But instead of singing them Bemis wrote in down in a comic book. Don’t get me wrong, the book has some interesting things going on but it’s a little too chatty and drifts on. The art is nice and it fits the feel. I’ll most definitely check out the second because it did peak my curiosity a wee bit.
Dustin: Borrow
I went into this with excitement, but no expectations the same way I went into Say Anything’s “In Defense of the Genre.” Both times now I’ve been disappointed. Overall the issue is average. There isn’t anything special here and even if I didn’t know anything about writer Max Bemis’ life, I would find it to be about as interesting. In fact, I think I would find it worse if I didn’t.
The main character is unlikeable and frankly just a judgmental douche. I wonder when it became hipster to hate hipsters? Probably right around this issue was written. The art is the only saving grace, but the story it has to work with leaves it with about three cool pages. Much like with “In Defense of the Genre” I will enjoy those three pages over and over and skip over the rest.
Connor: Buy
The moment I found out that Max Bemis was creating a comic, I had to have it, I love his band. This is pretty much everything I expected from Bemis, it deals with mental illness and a guy who may be more than he first appears. To me this has done everything a first issue should, it’s sold the rest of the series to me.
I'm very much interested in the protagonist, Tim. I really want to see where this is going to go. It is well written and Jorge Coelho's art just looks great, a very cartoon look with slight caricature stylings. Just do yourself a favor, pick it up!
Ken: Buy
Well, well looks like for all the disgruntled, borderline alcoholic, i hate humans even though I'm forced to be one, I kinda identify with nerds but still call them nerds cuz "Hey least I get laid", should probably be medicated but fuck that over medicating is what's wrong with this country, hipster hating loons like myself that the Indie Comic Gods have looked down and smiled.
This splendid indie offering "Polarity #1" is ripe with the kind of self-depreceating dark humor that I find so scrumptious. Not because I'm all jaded and bitter 24/7 but because it isn't pretentious, it isn't too over the top (considering the medium/subject matter) and it feels organic. Tim the protagonist comes off like a real dude, I can picture myself in some coffee house I got suckered into going to, exchanging mum quips about the pretentious douche bags in the place who think "well I've got thick black framed glasses and stylishly messy hair, my opinion on music and art is flawless".
So when I read a snazzily drawn tale that feels this organic with a main character like this, all I gotta say is fuck and yes. This is what makes the "Everyday Joe" stories worth reading but truth be told, the average Joe who's even moderately self-aware knows how this it is. Hell you don't even have to be all angsty and shit but for those guys and gals out there who are like "How the fuck was the Macarena so big when I was a kid?" Who grew up to realize oh okay cuz most people are fucking idiots, most of what is fed to you via TV and radio is bullshit filler and the only things that actually matter are the things that matter to yourself well stop Youtubing eps of the Maxx, let your hatred of the NY Yankees go for a bit and stop trolling those too clueless to realize you're trolling and take a gander at this good shit right ch'ere.
