By Svetlana Fedotov
You ever feel like someone is out to get you? Like someone or something is purposely hounding you, intent on making every day of your life just a tiny bit more miserable than the last? If so, then you’re either batshit insane or completely on point, and luckily (or unluckily) for the lead character Guy in Negative Space, it’s the latter. A comic exploring suicide and depression from the viewpoint of a company intent on harvesting the negative emotions for nefarious purposes, it mixes Cabin in the Woods aesthetics with the wispy, indie art of a person who has spent too much time looking inwards. A solid, if not a bit bizarre, work, Negative Space keeps strong with original art and a twist ending, but leaves the reader wandering how much is story and how much is idea.
As stated, the comic follows the lead, Guy, a dumpy, depressed writer who, mid-way through writing his suicide letter, gets writer’s block. Deciding to clear his head before following through with his plans, the comic flashes between him walking around and monologueing, and a secret headquarters that watches his every move, waiting for him to die. Unfortunately, he just doesn’t seem to do the deed, so the company is forced to play the world around him, making his day just a little worse and eventually culminating with his house being blown up. Still unshaken, it’s not until his regular coffee guy is kidnapped does he finally notice that there’s something weird going on and following his tracks, ends up somewhere deep on the edge of sanity.
Alright, here’s what I liked about the comic. I adored the character design of Guy. He’s literally an ugly, dumpy little man who is depressed which, let’s admit it, is surprisingly rare. ‘Ugly’ and ‘lead character’ don’t go hand in hand with comics and even the characters that are alcoholic or depressed or just plain shitty (*ahem* Green Arrow) still sport a perfect six-pack and a beautifully coifed hair like they just stepped off a Supernatural audition. It’s not really relatable, which makes Guy a much stronger character. His permanent frown and matching paunch make a perfect combination for someone who I actually have some sympathy for. Honestly, I just dig the art in general. Though Ryan K. Lindsay is known more for indie and self-published work, this might really be the kick his career needs to go big. Beautifully detailed and delicately colored, he’s great at making individual characters and playing with the nuances of facial expression. It’s pretty damn cool.
While, I dig the concept of Negative Space, I can’t tell if I’m in love with the story or the idea. I think the idea of a company following your every move for the most wicked of reasons and adding a horror twist that I won’t ruin for you, is pretty rad. Also, starting the work on Guy getting writers block on his suicide note is hilarious. But the story itself is a bit blah. Maybe its Guys monologueing on and on about how down and out he is while he slugs through life or the over-confident character architecture of the people on top, but the characters just seem a little flat. It’s a bit of a plug and play; set up the scene and tape in the persona. But perhaps I’m being too hard; it is only the first issue. Maybe it’s one of those things where the character matures and grows with each issue and there is a bucket load exposition that will even everyone out, but it’s not in the first issue. Stick around for what happens after the end though; I mean, what’s up with that?