Step into the world beyond the veil in this week's Fresh Friday Features. From mystical journeys where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, unraveling secrets of our deepest, inner psyche, these stories offer a tantalizing glimpse into the mystical and the enigmatic.
This week, @ArtCrumbs picked four titles that'll give you a peek into the ordinary lives that maybe aren't so ordinary anymore!
- Comic - The Cloud: "WHAT IS A WISH?" That is the question the boy must answer for himself as he and his wolf, Cloud, embark on a grand voyage to find the boy's father and return the wish that was stolen from him.
- Graphic Novel - Spooked: A bunch of underprepared lunatics enter a cursed hospital with a camera and no plan of escape… you probably have a general idea of what happens next.
- Manga - Urban Legend Hunters: Someone at school is worshipping a baby spirit! In order to prevent young love from running rampant, the school implemented a “dating ban.” This created a very tense atmosphere at school.
- Webcomic - Starfish Lovers: A plot to steal the sun will send Pinky's home into chaos. Forcing him to embark on an adventure that will make him question his religion, his sexuality, and the foundations he was raised on.
The Cloud, 152 pages - Published by Archaia Entertainment, (cc/ @GCpartnerships)
"WHAT IS A WISH?" That is the question the boy must answer for himself as he and his wolf, Cloud, embark on a grand voyage to find the boy's father and return the wish that was stolen from him. The Cloud is a beautiful, and at times, heartbreaking journey of a reluctant hero forced to outwit a cast of colorful characters: a thieving girl, bizarre creatures from the Great Before, and the Mad King. It's a quest of self-discovery where the boy will learn that not all wishes can or should come ...
Story and Art by K.I. Zachopoulos and Vincenzo Balzano
With stunning art, the wispy landscapes and bizzare looking worlds were so enjoyable to get lost in. A story of loss, and hope, it blends well with the almost windy art style. Our main characters are not typical, and the forms shift slightly with the comic's mood and tone. It feels almost alive during the highest energy and breathes softly with darker colors and calm simple pages. I really can't praise the artwork enough.
Combine that with a genuinely beautiful story with a strong willed main character. The story is also narrated not by the boy, but the winged wolf companion. I can appreciate the perspective that comes from an omnipresent view, versus the boy's. It's somewhat sad we don't hear his inner thoughts, but I think his actions speak for himself.
Just a stunning book all around! It's probably my favorite book from Archaia so far!
Spooked, 43 pages - Published by Schomburg Comics, (cc/ @SchomburgArt)
A bunch of under-prepared lunatics enter a cursed hospital with a camera and no plan of escape… you probably have a general idea of what happens next.
Story and Art by Schomburg Comics
It just gets worse and worse and worse! The art is so much fun! Colorful, energetic, chaotic, and terrifying! Each of the characters are unique in looks and attitude, and that really makes this a solid graphic novel. What I really liked about this was how the stories of each of the characters feels whole and interesting on its own, it still flows well as an overarching story with a larger plot at hand. Or maybe it's just lurking in the shadows.
Vibrant colors, dramatic hauntings, it's a spooky read!
Urban Legend Hunters, 164 pages - Published by MediBang Inc., (cc/ @MediBang)
Someone at school is worshipping a baby spirit! In order to prevent young love from running rampant, the school implemented a “dating ban.” This created a very tense atmosphere at school. Yangda, a high school boy, believes that there are secrets behind every urban legend. In order to find out who is pretending to be a ghost, he decides to hold a ritual to summon baby spirits!
Story and Art by MediBang Inc.
Nothing prepared me for what I was going to read in this manga. It's truly strange and out of this world! Demonic baby spirits are definitely something I want to avoid in the future. So scary! lol It's a wild ride from just the first chapter. Art is super-clean, and I enjoyed watching someone stick his nose a little too far into the realm of the twisted baby ghosts. He was warned, now he can suffer the consequences of his nosey-ness! It feels like the legends of my own school days come true, but makes me so glad they weren't!
It really is an "out there" story and I'm definitely going to finish it as part of my weekend reading. I just have to know how our main character Yangda gets out of this situation... if he can.
Starfish Lovers, 238 pages - Published by Little River Comics, (cc/ @tterranova)
A plot to steal the sun will send Pinky's home into chaos. Forcing him to embark on an adventure that will make him question his religion, his sexuality, and the foundations he was raised on. This is an inclusive and LGBTQIA-friendly tale that focuses on a slow-burn romance and the unraveling of the secrets of Pinky's known world.
Story and Art by Little River Comics
Who are we? What are we? They say staring into an abyss can drive you to madness, and nothing can be more scary then peering into your own self. I appreciate Starfish Lovers for tackling such delicate topics in a thoughtful way, but not being afraid to show how ugly and harsh reality is. Never being yourself is torture, as a non-binary person myself, I understand the pressures to be someone you aren't. I could definitely relate to Pinky in that way.
Combine such a thoughtful story with the gorgeous world of Palu, it's art, architecture, wildlife, it's incredibly beautiful and a stellar webcomic. I've only finished Chapter 1 so far, and I'm curious to see what will happen to Pinky now! Thank you for sharing your work with us Little River. I'll be keeping an eye on this webcomic from now on ~
That's all for now, but we'll have another set of Fresh Friday reading recommendations next week. You can also browse through our Featured Comics news section!
Check out more amazing stuff from @ArtCrumbs below.
ArtCrumbs