Grant Morrison is a tricky son of a bitch.

He’s one of the most celebrated and genuinely talented writers in the comic book industry, despite proudly living on a planet all his own. At first glance, much of his work appears to be complete gibberish, and that’s certainly the case with his latest release, Nameless #1. This Image Comics debut, drawn by Chris Burnham, throws readers into the dark with little help and keeps going and going whether one is caught up or not. Even keeping in mind the comic’s heavy, difficult manner of storytelling, however, Morrison has yet another success on his hand with this wonderfully well-crafted release steeped in fantasy, science fiction and horror, held together with a strong thematic backbone.

Any Morrison aficionado knows that the man is obsessed with the concept of reality, clashed in his work against dreams, psychedelics, fourth-wall-breaking, or what have you. Despite such a common approach in his work, the stuff he puts out is rarely redundant. Nameless indeed feels unique, focusing on the dream world as a means of escape from the harsh environment of reality. One page towards the beginning is particularly compelling, with strung together narration boxes stacking worldwide human catastrophe upon catastrophe, including female genital mutilation and acid attacks. These atrocities ramp up and up and up until it overwhelms, with larger and bolder text set to increasingly dire and tense imagery to the back of the text. It’s easy to see how horror will play into this series going forward, and it looks to be immensely fascinating and unsettling.

The main character is able to take the reins on his dream-self to escape to a realm rife with abstract renditions of the actual world he lives in. When one ignores all of the heady, high-concepts at play and all of the obscure storytelling, Nameless #1 is a simple adventure comic, about a man with magic powers hired by top men to find a mcguffin believed to help save the world. This simple and fun concept seems like a great way to anchor a series that is so far swimming around in murky, abstruse waters.

Readers are given no explanation for how the protagonist gained his powers, no explanation for how he uses him, no explanation for how many others share his powers, no explanation for what the heck this mcguffin is or how it works, etc. Besides that, whenever he dives into the dream world, nothing makes any solid sense, naturally enough. Nameless is challenging but it’s worth digging into for the deep stuff it’s playing around with, especially considering how expertly it’s crafted.

Morrison and Burnham go back to the synergy that made their amazing work on Batman, Inc. together possible with Nameless, working in perfect harmony. This comic displays amazing understanding of the medium, and Burnham’s drawings are so damn good on their own. The way all of the panels are presented forgoes the standard order in exchange for often rounded boxes and layouts that almost look three-dimensional at times. A certain visual motif is sure to be burned into the minds of readers, and Nathan Fairbairn’s often highly contrasting coloring nails a dream-like feel when it needs to. The pacing is also excellent; this comic never takes a break, beaming itself into one’s noggin in a way that cleverly stinks of the creepy, unsettling, and overwhelming unreal atmosphere it creates.

Burnham knows how to draw, using his signature bombastic, sharp style to deliver some truly awesome visuals. He has the technical skill needed to keep up with his writer, from the rain that actually looks to be rapidly hitting the ground to the intricate, nuanced detail in movement necessary to transition one panel to the next. His pencils look constantly extreme, from exaggerated facial expressions to creatures practically dripping with menace.

Like a lot of Morrison’s work, Nameless will leave many frustrated after just a single read. Anyone inclined to challenge themselves with potentially poignant fiction will realize just how special this first issue is, though.

Story: Grant Morrison Art: Chris Burnham
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Check out Matt’s digital portfolio here