The Unwritten #1 (DC / Vertigo – Carey / Gross)
Everyone’s read the Tommy Taylor books, the popular series of novels turned pop culture phenomenon about a boy wizard’s adventures. And everyone knows about Tom Taylor, the boy the novels were based on, whose life was so overshadowed by his Dad’s fictional epic that Tom’s become a lame Z-level celebrity at best and a human viral marketing tool at worst.
But what if the resemblance goes even deeper? What if Tom is the boy-wizard of the books made flesh? And if that sounds crazy, why is it bringing him into the crosshairs of an ancient faction that has never been named in any book or text?
To discover the truth about himself, Tom must search through all the places in history where fiction and reality have intersected. And in the process, he’ll learn more about that unwritten cabal and the plot they’re at the center of –– a plot that spans all of literature from the first clay tablets to the gothic castles where Frankenstein was conceived to the self-adjusting stories of the internet.
A conspiracy mystery a la The Da Vinci Code, THE UNWRITTEN is the eagerly anticipated reunion of Mike Carey (X-Men, HELLBLAZER) and Peter Gross (FABLES, Chosen) – the team behind the multiple Eisner-nominated LUCIFER. Acclaimed artist Yuko Shimizu (SANDMAN: DREAM HUNTERS) joins the duo on covers, and the series kicks off with a 4-issue opening storyarc with the extra-sized 40-page debut promo-priced at only $1.00!
quite the blurb! But quite the book!
I know this book has been out for a week or two… I know, and normally I don’t review a book that has been out a while, simply because there is brighter and shinier stuff to look at this week. But The Unwritten is worth talking about!
I really don’t want to give any spoilers here, just want to maintain that this is one of the most original and satisfying story ideas to come along in a while, Mike Carey does an incredible job of laying the groundwork for what could be an epic tale. Certainly Mike Carey has made a name for himself within the Vertigo line and elsewhere… but this might be venue to getting on the “modern master” list!
And on top of that Peter Gross’ art is as strong as it has ever been here!
just a note: while this is dealing with a very “Harry Potter” type character, that does not mean this book is suitable for ever Harry Potter fan out, in particular the younger ones!
Issue grade: A+ (for a $1 – you cannot beat this!)
