Writer: Skottie Young
Artist: Kyle Strahm
Colorist: Jean-Francois Beaulieu
Letterer: Nate Piekos of Blambot
Release Date: May 4, 2022
Price: $3.99
Reviewer: Lukke Sweet
Twig #1 by Skottie Young is a light-hearted tale of adventure. This issue starts with the all too familiar feeling of waking up late and scrambling to make it out of the door. And if that weren’t enough, it’s Twig’s first day! As he hurries, it seems as though everyone in his community knows that he’s running late, mentioning it at every turn. Finally, Twig and Splat, his companion, arrive before Mount Guphin and their adventure truly begins.
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Story
The plot of Twig #1 is simple, but that’s exactly what makes it perfect for this issue. By utilizing the familiar, and slightly predictable, story of a hero’s call to adventure and setting out, Young has given himself and Kyle Strahm the opportunity for expansive worldbuilding. The world of Twig is completely different from our own, and Young leaves readers slightly in the dark about how everything works and the role that each character plays within it.
To further this, Young hasn’t used any caption boxes within this issue, all of the information about the world will be gleaned through dialogue or the background art. It will be interesting to see if this continues throughout the series, and if so, what Young will introduce to help readers understand the importance of Twig’s role in society and what exactly the Placelings do. So far, Young has done this well, giving readers enough to understand what is going on but not so much that it feels like an info dump.
Furthermore, Young illustrates his skill with dialogue over the first few pages. The repetition by each new character that Twig is running late and will get in trouble, helps the reader to feel the urgency and importance of Twig’s task. Young allows his talent to flow in this issue, none of the conversations feel forced or out of place, and it sets a good pace throughout.
Art
Young gave Kyle Strahm and Jean-Francois Beaulieu an entire world to illustrate and play with and they knocked it out of the park. Each panel in this issue introduces us to another fantastical element of this world, everything from a tree that had been hollowed out for a home to a talking mountain. Strahm and Beaulieu get to further showcase their talent during a travel montage that features no dialogue, but each panel shows a different locale.
The art of Twig gives it the feeling of a Saturday morning cartoon and it fits so well into the story. Strahm’s art has a dynamic feel that will keep readers moving forward and feeling as though they are on the journey with Twig and Splat. All in all, the style and colors fit the light tone of the story and amplify the fantastical within this new world.
Final Thoughts
Twig #1 by Skottie Young is a fun and imaginative start. Young has taken a familiar story and made it interesting through his brilliant worldbuilding. This worldbuilding is taken even higher by the art of Kyle Strahm and the vibrant colors of Jean-Francois Beaulieu. With Twig having set off on his adventure, readers will be excited to see where the journey takes them next…