- Writer: Cullen Bunn
- Artist and Colorist: Andrea Muttl
- Letterer: Simon Bowland
- Digital Art Technician: Adam Pruett
- Designer: Justin Couch
- Editor: Daniel Chabon
- Assistant Editors: Chuck Howitt and Konner Knudsen
Thanks to Dark Horse Comics for the review copy!
Parasomia #1 tells two separate seemingly unrelated stories that I imagine will converge in future issues. The first is set in the present and involves an old homeless guy living under a bridge who is harassed by some hoodlums. The second is set in the past and features a masked highwayman (I call him that because I have a Lego minifigure that resembles him believe it or not) on a horse.
Parasomia deftly shifts between these two stories. While on the surface, they don’t have much in common, the intercutting highlights some subtle details that both enhances the story and leads to some interesting questions. The first issue of the series drops a lot of details that make you want to read more, which is a smart play for a new book. There’s also a pretty surprising twist that went against my expectations.
While the two halves of the book take place in different settings, the art remains consistent. The pictures use a hazy muted style that adds to the mystery. You can clearly tell what is going on, but it always feels there’s just a bit more to be seen than that art shows you, which fits in with the storytelling perfectly. One area where this is not the case is the action, which is shown quite vividly. Parasomia doesn’t shy away from showing blood, but because it uses such a muted color palette, it does not seem gratuitous.
Parasomia #1 is a book I enjoyed reading and left wanting to know more about what is going on. In the interest of avoiding spoilers I won’t list out my many burning questions. I have some theories, but I am eager to see what the book has in store in future issues.
Parasomia #1 is now available.
Are you going to pick up this title? Have you already? Feel free to chat with me on Twitter or leave a comment below!
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