Review: 27 - Second Set #3

I love the idea that “Fame” and “Talent” are given byexternal forces. It’s what interested me about the first series of 27 and it’s a concept that continues inthis issue as well. It’s very fitting that a book dealing with a rock star andhis chase of fame and attention would leave its readers the same way it’s maincharacter does, always wanting more. I said on Twitter before writing thisreview that there was only one book that I was looking forward to tomorrow andif you haven’t guessed by now, this is the book. From the first issue of thefirst series this book has had its hooks and me and it’s one of the few titlesthat I would chase down if I had to and if you missed the first series then younow need to go pick it up.

This issue starts off with a bang as our injured protagonistpresses the button once more. He snaps a nearby twig and draws in the aircreating green stick figured people who he asks for help. Soon enough a crudelydrawn ambulance pulls up to a hospital to drop off our injured rock star andmanager. From there our story is cut in half as one half of the page showsGarland and his manager healing and bounding with each other, while the other halfhas Valerie our “one-hit wonder” cultivating musical artifacts. These events alllead up to a party that Valerie hosts for all of her one-hit wonder friendsthat ends in a bargain with yet another external force.

What I really enjoy about 27 is the writing. I love comics that have many layers of story andallow readers to take and understand the events of the story differently. Itend to describe this as surface story that is there for everyone to understandand enjoy, but then there is the deeper story that’s layered and stacked belowthat story. That’s where books like 27are truly brilliant and exciting because there is always so much more to takefrom the story. I would describe writer Charles Soule as a writer’s writer,because you can’t help but read his work and want to attempt your own story orsimple dissect his work in the best of possible ways so that you can get to eachand every layer of the story. Literally after each issue of 27 I feel inspired; I feel that I can domore than read this comic but actually do something meaningful and lasting inthis world. Because of that I hope that 27never ends, but continues to develop in well-thought out pieces of some of thedeepest story telling in comics today.

The art continues to be strong and beautiful and play to thestory in all the right ways. As I mentioned in the review for the first issuethe art is cleaning and to use a musical term, has a studio feel to it. Itcould just be artist Renzo Podesta developing as a creator, or it could be anintentional technique to play into the story more. Art is subjective so I’llchoose the way I want to look at the art, but at the end of the day it’s hardto argue that there is something beautiful about Podesta’s style and howfitting it is for the series.

I skipped reviewing the last issue because sometimes you don’twant to share your favorite book with everyone. This book sits very near thetop of my list of favorite series and it has a certain effect on me that Ihaven’t had since Blue Monday, inwhich I want everyone to read and enjoy the series but wish I could keep it allto myself. With this third issue I just couldn’t see myself not sharing howgood the book is with everyone. Lastly this issue should give away the theme tothe covers for the second series (not that it’s really been a secret), so lookback at the first two issues and figure it out. In the meantime, it should be ano-brainer that you need to pick this book up this week and frankly if it wasn’treleasing tomorrow I wouldn’t even bother going to the comic shop.

Score: 5/5