Nerd Rant: Debris #1 and Just How Awesome It Was

Debris, the new limited series by independent comic publisher Image Comics, caught my eye as it started gaining some pretty significant buzz prior to its release. This new work by Kurtis J. Wiebe, author of Green Wake, was being advertised as a sci-fi fantasy mash-up about a post-apocolyptic earth where ancient spirits live within giant trash monsters.

Wait, what? Well, hell, sign me up.

I had to travel to the ends of the earth to snag myself a copy. Or to two comic shops, whatever. It was sold out at my local store so in the fiery heat of a July afternoon I trudged to the next store to find it. With each sweaty block I got more and more excited about this book, but I had to calm down. I didn't want to get my hopes up too quick and be instantly let down once I opened it.

But, alas, I was not disappointed.

Let's first start off with how freakin' gorgeous this comic is. Riley Rossmo, the artist who worked with Wiebe on Green Wake, really delivers here. His pencils give us dynamic character designs as well as incredibly cinematic action sequences that deserve great attention. Owen Gieni's colors also give the book a lush pastel landscape that allows the art an extra layer of depth. I know this is all hyper-nerdy, and most of you reading are probably couldn't care less, but these two artists really give the book a look and feel all its own. Their work creates a post-apocalyptic world that is both beautiful and haunting at the same time. Giant trash monsters never looked so pretty.

So, yeah, it's pretty, but what about the story, you ask. Well, it's pretty dope, that's what it is. The story follows Maya, a warrior under the tutelage of the village protector Calista, as she works to fight against the creatures that threaten the last village of the human race. One day, while on patrol, Calista and Maya discover that one of the colossals, large robotic creatures that endanger human life, has gotten closer to the village than ever before. After a series of tragic events it becomes Maya's duty to search out a far away mythical land in order to save her village, and in turn save the human race.

Now, I am generalizing here as to not give away the entire story, but let it be known that there is some great stuff in here. After finishing I immediately turned to page one and began to read for a second time. Wiebe is excellent at creating intricate mythos while also giving us a strong female lead that you truly care about. I seriously cant' wait for next month's installment.

Often with limited series I feel that authors have a difficult time with getting the pacing just right. They want to give you most of the information upfront so that you don't stop reading in frustration. The only problem with that is you risk losing most of the tension that comes along with world building. These characters should not have to explain their world to you, because, well, why would they? They live there. So it's the job of both the author and reader to begin to piece together just how this world works. With Debris, you begin to see the outlines of this tragic world and just how it came to be, but also setting up the journey of the heroine, Maya, as she sets out to into the wild to save her people. Also, At the back of the story there exists the sneaking possibility that these colossals may be more than they seem.

I haven't been this excited about an Image series since Scott Snyder's Severed last year. I love that this company really believes in strong stories that would not be given a chance at larger publications. While they may not always strike gold, it is that dedication to experimental ideas that makes them so great. Due to that determination we are rewarded with books like Debris that are so fresh and so new, while still harkening back to the stories that inspired it.

So while this is less of a review and more a of a spewing of love, I still suggest going out and picking it up. The hardest part is going to be waiting for the second installment in August.