TOXX #1
Evan Carothers story, letters, words
Eric Palicki words
Ben Worrell art
Marta Gasperoni colors
From Wolven Press
Feeling the monotony of the wasteland? Even your blood feels stale? Peep the solicit:
Thirty years ago, the ozone layer weakened, allowing radiation to pummel the Earth killing billions, accelerating evolution and mutation, and rendering the human race sterile. Against all odds, a woman miraculously becomes pregnant and must find a way to stay alive as multiple groups vie for control of her and her unborn child’s future.
Initially, TOXX wrapped me in the nostalgic comfort of a Mad Max-level doomsday. Everyone looks the part, grizzled from the harsh sun and dirtied from a hopeless existence. They have cool motorcycles, four wheelers, and an assortment of weapons to blast the faces off whatever got in their way. Once the irradiated meat of the story began to show itself, however, TOXX stood on its own two feet, letting the dystopian brilliance of the narrative shine.
Carothers creates a great protagonist with Claire. He’s also created a great environment in which his well-established cast of characters can participate. This world is full of underground cities and desolate environments filled with mutated, nightmarish creatures. Every single human is on borrowed time, as humanity itself will, eventually, succumb to these monstrous mutations of wild and varied styles.
Tension is constantly pulled taut like an assassin readying piano wire. There are endless entities ready to kill these skilled scavengers, and with every page turn, a menacing belt of doom tendrils itself around each panel. The narrative is structured extremely well, taking its time to establish characters and build this dangerous world in a cohesive, organic manner. The powerful duo of Palicki and Carothers results in an apocalyptic perfection. Fans of this brand of futuristic hopelessness will be eating well.
The story isn’t as hopeless as we’re led to believe, as Claire is growing hope within her womb. This chance for humanity to escape its recklessness and disregard for the planet doesn’t come without risk. The leaders of various outposts want the baby as a science project, and the hellish mutants roaming the sun-scorched lands want it for a snack.
Worrell’s art showcases the insanity magnificently. Character designs are phenomenal. They live, breathe, and emote to the fullest extent making them come alive brilliantly on the page. The mutants of the world showcase some truly terrifying body horror. Each of these beings looks different. Some are covered with eyes, others with bone-like plates tearing through their soft, human flesh. Each individual monster is a visual metaphor for the dilapidation of the planet. I’ve never seen a hostile world look so beautiful.
Speaking of beautiful, part of that visual sublimity is thanks to Gasperoni’s excellent palette. It’s warm, pertinent to the truculent sun spreading its wrath along an unprotected planet. Even when underground, or in the brief moments where the sun sets, there’s a warmness to the blues shading the scenery. It’s a smart move. It keeps readers on edge and never lets them cool down. It’s coal feeding the hungry tension train barreling down the narrative tracks.
TOXX is a great premier issue, and I can also tell you that the second is just as good. It’s live on Kickstarter right now, and if these are the kinds of books Wolven Press intends on dropping, everyone needs to keep their eyes out for future projects. Click here to check out the campaign. Consider giving it a back. You won’t be disappointed.
If you’d like to watch me to talk to the creators, click below to catch a recap of the fun livestream.
Wolven Press has been creating independent comics for multiple years, most recently a double-feature of horror titled Mixology Noir Book One, and the first story arc of the space western The Ignis Quadrant on Kickstarter. You can learn more about Wolven Press by clicking here or following them on Instagram or Twitter.
Do you review comics or interview creatives? If you’d like to review TOXX #1 and #2 or interview Evan Carothers, let me know!
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