I’m not usually a fan of trippy sci-fi. It’s just something I’ve never gotten into because the trippy aspect of it seems to always dominate the story. Heart of Weirdness is trippy, but it doesn’t lose sight of the story. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of Outer Limits and that’s probably the highest compliment that I can pay it. It also reminded me of The Manhattan Projects before it went off the rails. The story begins with our main character Everett landing somewhere. He’s clearly not on earth, but where is he, is the question. He attempts to call Control and let them know that he’s made it through. From there we see him in a hospital bed as he’s being briefed on the mission before him. The gist is that a mad scientist has escaped through another dimension and they want Everett to take care of the problem before the rogue can destroy the universe.
I don’t want to tell you any more than that because his journey is quick, but incredible. This story really caught my attention and held it until the end of the issue. The dialogue it simple, but effective for the story. Everett’s journey is full of twists, but ultimately very rewarding. What’s particularly satisfying about this story is that it begins and ends within the issue. It’s rare to read such a solid one-shot story that isn’t trying to be something more. I think this creative team could definitely do more stories together, but the journey is complete for Everett.
The art is fantastic. It creates a world that honestly feels alien. It’s not just the landscape, but the coloring and texture of the planet. Everett looks like a lone alien which is a nice touch since he is. The artistic style for the designs is wonderful. I really enjoyed it as it gave the character’s simple facial features, but they were also very unique and distinct looking. The coloring really deserves a lot of praise. There’s some interesting color hues and color pairing happening throughout and overall it gives the book a distinct feel. It also has a three color newspaper print feel to it which is nice. A little throwback, but not in an annoying way like other comics have been.
I’m having a hard time remembering another one-shot that I’ve read this year, yet alone one this good. I loved the hell out of this story before I even got to the ending and was pleased when I did get there. If you’re looking for a one-shot that is complex, yet simple to follow then check out Heart of Weirdness.
Score: 5/5
Heart of Weirdness Writer: Seth Andrew Jacob Artist: Alchemichael Colors: Pete Toms Letterer: Colin Bell Price: $3.99 (Plus Shipping); $1.99 (Digital) Release Date: 11/18/15 Format: One-Shot; Print/Print Website