- Writer: Charles Soule
- Artist, Colorist, Designer: Ryan Browne
- Letterer: Chris Crank
- Color Assists: Kevin Knipstein
- Production Design: Erika Schnatz
Thanks to Image Comics for the review copy!
Eight Billion Genies is one of those high concept comics that manages to stake out a unique ‘what if’ premise that is a clever take on the ‘what would you do if you had a wish?’ story. If you’ve ever seen Aladdin or similar genie movies, you’ve probably fantasized about what your wish would be. In this case, everyone of the Earth’s eight billion residents suddenly gets his and her very own genie, complete with one wish instead of three. As can be expected, crazy stuff starts to happen. The depiction of peoples various wishes and the impact they have is one of the highlights of the issue.
The genies themselves are the standout element of the art in this book. They are translucent glowing little fellows (and whatever the female version of a fellow is) that look more like little kid versions of their owners than the stereotypical genies in pop culture (when the character has a backpack, these cute little guys do too). They are whimsical and the perfect amount of silly in an otherwise dark and seriously drawn book.
The first issue hints at some backstories for the main characters, so it will be interesting to see how that plays into the series down the road. I’m also curious to see if we ever learn where these eight billion genies ever came from. If you like Y: The Last Man, I think you’ll like Eight Billion Genies. Both have a big ‘what if X happened’ premise that gives ample room for creative storytelling.
Eight Billion Genies #1 is set to be released on May 11th, 2022.
Are you going pick up the comic? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Twitter at @TheConCollectve!
We’re always looking for new writers that are truly passionate about stuff – we give you the review materials, the platform and the support to say what you feel from the heart. If you’d like to write opinion pieces about pop culture topics or reviews, reach out to us using the contact us form.
