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Genesis
Released by: Image Comics
Released on: April 16th, 2014.
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Written by Nathan Edmondson (who has written Punisher and Black Widow for Marvel), illustrated by newcomer Alison Sampson and colored by Jason Worde, Genesis is a 56 page 'graphic novella' that introduces us to a man who commits suicide. He had been told by his parents since an early age that he'd change the world, and when he realized that it was nigh impossible for one man to really make a different, he leaped from the top of a church steeple to the pavement below. Except he didn't die. Somehow he survived the fall though he sees a strange bald man in his hospital room that kisses him on his head and leaves before his wife, Lillian, shows up.
Turns out the jumper's name is Adam and all he has to show for his efforts is a scar. Not a single broken bone, no torn muscles, just a scar. When his wife makes him soup for lunch and he mumbles about wanting to have had bread with it, suddenly the room fills with bread. He's not entirely sure how he did this and he flees, understandably confused by all of this. He quickly learns that when he thinks of something, he can make it physically manifest. His wife assures him this is a gift he can use to help people. First, he makes his wife a castle, then he creates food for the hungry and it's all wonderful, until one night while making love to his wife her dark hair suddenly turns blonde. When she becomes upset and tells him that what he did was monstrous, she quickly turns into a monster and Adam realizes that he can't really control his ability. He wishes her dead, but that seems to be the one thing that is out of his realm of jurisdiction, so once again he flees, destroying the world in his wake. While in a forest, away from it all, he encounters a talking bear he debates with him the reality of his actions. His opinions are swayed and he decides to remake what he destroyed beginning with his childhood home and his parents but as he hasn't created words for them to say, they don't talk. When the bald man from the hospital shows up, the truth behind Adam's abilities is revealed…
This is heady, trippy, transcendental stuff. Light reading it is not. Genesis is one of those stories that requires you to pay attention, to put some thought into what you are reading and to note not only the dialogue but the artwork as well. This is a fantastic example of how comics really can bring together the best in text and illustration to create an experience that is both mentally and visually stimulating. As we follow Adam through all of this, through his attempts at both creation and just as importantly his attempts at destruction, questions are raised as to what he's actually doing and what he's actually been capable of all along. All of these threads tie into the introductory pages in clever, interesting ways as Edmondson's script takes us into some appropriately bizarre territory.
Equally impressive are Alison Sampson's artistic skills. Using a lot of double page spreads throughout the book to convey a more epic approach to certain scenes, here she conjures up a style reminiscent of Michael Kaluta and Charles Vess without aping their work or coming across as any sort of clone. There's great attention to detail here, an interesting emphasis on architectural style (her background is in architecture so this makes perfect sense) while the way in which both Adam, Lillian and the bald man are portrayed helps add some quirky character development to the story. Anyone interested in her artistic process should make a point of checking out the last few pages of the book that show the line work being inked and then being colored. It's an interesting glimpse into how comic book art comes together. It also points out how important Worde's coloring work is to the look of the book as well. This is an impressive work, one well worth seeking out if you're looking for something a little different in your comic book reading.
