You get dragged into this comic. Ray Fawkes has a way of grabbing your attention and then tossing it to the floor. To read this comic in just passing by fashion won’t cut it. Although I think you sat and stared at it forever, you may very well lose your mind that way as well. So there is a balance to Intersect. You must read it, think about it, and then completely drop it. Fawkes acknowledges this as well, and for the first time tells us that you should be confused as a reader at the end of a comic. So I take this two ways. One way: Sometimes when artist deliberately confuses you, it sucks. What is the author’s purpose in making an impossible story to decipher. Second way: You get addicted to the comic because you see that confusion will only lead to understanding. For me, I feel a tug of war between these options and continue to go back and forth. So there will probably be moments in this review where I love the comic and then moments where I hate it. The comic starts out rough. Jason and Alison seem to be in some sort of struggle with the body. It is haunting to say the least. To be connected with someone is the highest of all human abilities, but to be so connected with that person that you literally fight to share a body sounds like a nightmare, especially when that person is your significant other. I am not sure if they share memories but in any case, we get tiny flashbacks of their relationship. Last month’s had more substance, but this month it is all about their sexual relationship. Actually when the two are fighting, I can’t tell what is going on, but there seems to be a sexual undertone with it all. So yeah awkward to say the least. Oh and did I mention that there is a gun involved.
The kid is in this scene somewhere, but I don’t think it is entirely clear who is holding the gun. It looks to be some sort of beast that can’t take his/her transformation. I honestly don’t know what the kid’s role is with Intersect. He doesn’t seem like a kid at all but more a voice of reason. As you can tell there are a lot of I don’t knows and maybe this or that in my review. And this is where my frustration lies. I really don’t know anything! But then I am falling into the “thinking too much about it” category so I will let it go.
The story has some clear progression with this issue and I think the art helps to move the story on its way. Although in the awkward moments, I felt myself tensing up and wanting to look away. It didn’t show anything, but uncomfortable all the same. The art was still brilliant though. My favorite parts included the scattered panels that tossed and turned on the page. It gave a movement to plot, as well as, a movement in your eyes. The light colors on the present and the dark colors of the past really contrast well. Although it makes me think that the past was even more terrifying than their present state, but again who knows.
Intersect really has something to give their audience. I don’t think readers will pleased at all moments, but a story can be better when the reader at certain moments wants to throw your comic against a wall. So Ray Fawkes, keep it up, because I continue to pick it up.
Intersect #5 Writer/Artist/Creator: Ray Fawkes Publisher: Image Comics Price: $3.50 Release Date: 3/25/15 Format: Ongoing, Print/Digital