NARCO #1 (IMAGE COMICS)

Marcus has a unique condition where if his heart rate goes over 200 bpm’s he loses consciousness. This rare form of narcolepsy is really inconvenient and makes it unsafe for him to do certain things. Despite that he still loves hanging with friends, trolling online serial killer chats, and being infatuated with his neighbor Jess. But all of those things are in dire jeopardy.

Narco #1 – Written By Doug Wagner – Art By Daniel Hillyard – Colors By Dave Stewart – Letters By Ed Dukeshire – Edited By Kevin Gardner - Published By Image Comics

Credit: Image Comics

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

Marcus sits out in the courtyard of his apartment building and starts trolling online serial killer fans with his blog. When an opossum startles him, we find out why he goes by the name Narco in his blog, because when his heart rate goes above 200 bpm’s his narcolepsy kicks in and he passes out. Besides being inconvenient it can also be a safety issue. He meets up with his group of friends for dinner and is teased because of his infatuation with the waitress Jess, who also happens to be his neighbor. His nervousness of passing out if she over stimulates him is what he says his fear is, but he just uses it as an excuse. However, he will have bigger issues in the not-too-distant future that will change his life forever.

WRITING:

This first issue sets up the world and characters in it very well. Doug Wagner gives the reader all the backstory they need for Marcus. Explaining his medical condition as well as portraying him as a little bit of a scarred cat despite his online bravado. Wagner shows us his mundane life and wastes little time on things that are not important to the story. This allows the pacing of the first issue to be brisk, but straight to the point in setting up the series to come. Laying all the groundwork in this first issue will surely free up more important reveals later. It also gives the issue a sense of mystery, which culminates with what happens on the final pages of the issue.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this first issue matches the story and brings this world to life. Daniel Hillyard keeps things simple and focuses on the characters and their physical traits. Hillyard uses this as a way to visually show us who Marcus and his friends are. The settings look great as well but do not allow the reader to get too lost in them, which benefits building up the characters and who they are. However, there are some not so subtle background features that give context clues as well. The color choices made by Dave Stewart match the artwork perfectly and allow for this world to really be brought to life.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF WRESTLE HEIST #3

Final Thoughts:

Narco #1 sets the tone and pace for the series to come, by laying down some great groundwork. This is a unique take on a true crime/mystery/murder story that has a lot of promise. It definitely has my interest in the next issue and beyond. If you are looking for something different yet familiar grab a copy at the LCS this week.

FINAL GRADE: 8.7/10

Let me know your thoughts on Narco #1 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!