UNWRITTEN #4

Review by: akamuu

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Size: pages
Price: 2.99

What sold me on this title was Carey’s unconventional method.  Nothing Earth-shatteringly unique, but a nice mix of faux webpages, magazine articles, and TV reports.  Overlaid panels, and frequent switches between the real world of Tommy Taylor, and the world from the book.

Most of these conventions have been completely absent from the third and fourth issues, as Carey just uses straight-up narrative devices, and Peter Gross draws B+ panels in very…traditional is the wrong word…simple layouts.   Thre are no two page spreads, and, in fact, the only full page panel comes on the last page.

I don’t know why the creative team has abandoned the creative style they set out with in issue one.  I don’t think the comic has gained anything by its absence.  But, while it’s lost a bit of visual appeal, and sense of reality, Unwritten is still an intriguing story about truth and fiction.  So, while I’m no longer eagerly anticipating the next issue, I’m still curious to find out what Carey’s going to do next.

Story: 3 - Good
Art: 3 - Good

Comments

  1. While I liked the faux media in the first issue, I’m extremely glad it’s not being forced into every single one. Where the story is currently I feel these sections would just come across trite or silly. When Tommy Taylor, or anything relevant, is making headlines again, then I’ll lap it up. Although, you could make the case for having them forshadow plotlines, themes or provide dreary exposition, I feel having it become the comic’s gimmick would greatly reduce any impact they might have. 

    I can’t comment on the latest issue yet, although the third was an improvement imo. While neither the art nor layout was particularly inspiring I found the characterisation, plotting, and dialogue much richer, stronger (and actually going somewhere).

  2. You might be right about forcing the faux media into the story, MacAoidh.  Carey may choose to use the device sparingly just to keep it from seeming too trite (a perfect word for it, by the way).  But his use of it in the first issue makes me long for…something atypical, layout wise, to happen on a more regular basis.  But maybe that is something that would tax the plotting.

    Let me know what you think of issue four when you’re done reading it. 

  3. I agree, akamuu.  The story still has me in it’s grasp, this issue was, uninspired.  It was a by-the-numbers slasher scene. 

  4. It was decent (-ish), nowhere as good as 1 or 3. Perhaps this series will have an odd numbered issue rule? 😉

    @Crippler: Yeah, what made 3 so great was the element of suspense and tension, besides the fairly interesting discussions from interesting characters (although, they all seem pointless one OTT issue later). As in issue 2, I really don’t like the Pullman character and I really hope there’s more to him (and the whole fiction/reality idea) than the series so far suggests.

    akamuu, I can see where you were coming from with the media, but it might have been paced a bit awkwardly to have them right at the end (if only every issue could be 40 pages… and cost one dollar). Hopefully we’ll see the reactions next issue, as they were certainly one of the most interesting aspects of the first issue…

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