Danny Dillon has always seen them. But he’s also aware that no one else can… Your Major Spoilers review of Something Epic #1 from Image Comics awaits!

SOMETHING EPIC #1

Writer: Szymon Kudranski
Artist: Szymon Kudranski
Colorist: Szymon Kudranski
Letterer: DC Hopkins
Editor: Marla Eizik
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3,99
Release Date: June 7, 2023

Previously in Something Epic: Outside our perception, creative thought takes physical form, with only a handful of individuals known as Epics able to interact with this wondrous hidden world. But for fourteen-year-old Danny Dillon, accepting these responsibilities himself won’t be easy or safe. Lose yourself in a world of endless fantasy and creativity, where superheroes, monsters, magical creatures, and cartoon characters live and breathe alongside us.

A HUGE IMAGINATION

Danny Dillon’s story, both in-universe and out, begins with his birth. From that opening scene, Danny himself explains that he has always had visions of things that weren’t there, be they superheroes, cartoon characters, or even video game folks walking the streets. As a child, he learned not to mention it, as his mother had him tested for his “visions,” but as a tween, he finds that they’re oddly comforting, even the vampire that lives in the attic. We even meet a few of the friends only he can see (and I’m sure they’ll be important later), but also an old man who can apparently see the same things he sees. Soon, his mother returns from what should have been a routine doctor visit with unexpected results. As he reads, a fairy appears over his should, reminding him to have hope.

But it’s clear that Danny knows better.

JUST PLAIN GORGEOUS

If you’re someone like me, who only knows Kudranski as an artist, you probably won’t be surprised that this is a really great looking comic book. From the very first page, Danny and his life feel almost photorealistic, which makes the eventual reveal of hovering superheroes, cartoon bears, and the rest of the wild concepts in play that much more shocking. Of particular note is a sequence wherein Ms. Dillon investigates her son’s reports of a vampire, only to be unable to see him as he hovers over her menacingly. I’m also kind of in love with the way the credits are slowly revealed within the artwork itself, appearing cinematically in Danny’s drawings and throughout the opening sequence. The story itself doesn’t explain much, but the important reveals make it all feel like a successful attempt to build suspense and tension, especially with the stunning reveal at the end of the issue. I initially feel like parts of the issue’s story felt familiar, but the end of the issue leaves me unsure where it’s going to go from here.

BOTTOM LINE: WORTH READING MORE THAN ONCE

I will say that Something Epic #1 will require more than reading to fully take in all the details, but it’s well worth the time that will take, especially to absorb the amazing art, breaking down to 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. There’s enough hook here that I’m ready to sign on for an ongoing series, which is one of the best ways to gauge the success of any number one issue.

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SOMETHING EPIC #1

90%

90%

A Remarkable Book

Kudranski plays with a few familiar concepts, but the finished product feels fresh and interesting, almost poetic.

• Writing

  7
• Art

  10
• Coloring

  10
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0