DISSONANCE #4
Writers: Singgih Nugroho, Ryan Cady
Artist: Sami Basri
Cover: Varsam Kurnia
Age Rating: M
After the world-shattering announcement about the Conscience Agreement, the world is no longer a safe place for everybody. Triggered by the immediate effect, Rex Mundi decided to stop Folke and Ghaergos at any cost.
Designer Melita Curphy, co-writers Singgih Nugroho and Ryan Cady, and artist Sami Basri will release Dissonance Vol.1 this September from Image Comics and Top Cow Productions.
In Dissonance, a strange, alternate world is populated by powerful human-spirit hybrids called Fantasmen. Folke and Roisia Herviett, two siblings with opposing worldviews, are challenged to prove their worth to fill their parents’ leadership in a devious group that secretly rules the planet. Meanwhile, Seraphim, a Fantasmen warrior guard, is sent to prevent a catastrophic event from affecting the Earth and its own universe.
Dissonance Vol.1 (ISBN: 978-1-5343-0742-1, Diamond code: APR180534) hits comics shops on Wednesday, September 12th and bookstores on Tuesday, September 18th.
Dissonance #3
Story: Singgih Nugroho & Ryan Cady
Art: Sami Basri
Cover: Varsam Kurnia
Folke finally accepts his fate and begins his new life with Ghaergos and goes all-out to make the world a better place by their standards. Meanwhile, Seraphim has finally found a perfect host who’s unexpectedly going to give it a very hard time.
DISSONANCE #2
Story: Singgih Nugroho
Art: Sami Basri
Cover: Varsam Kurnia
Roisia aggressively tries to confirm her position in the Rex Mundi without knowing that her brother has been keeping a secret about their parents’ past that could change everything. On the other hand, Seraphim begins to question its purpose after realizing what humanity has become.
It’s new comic book day tomorrow. What are folks excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you decide on that, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.
Slate Magazine – The Egyptian Revolution Inspires a Graphic Novel About Environmental Collapse – This sounds really interesting.
Kotaku – Cosplayer Does Whatever A Spider Can – This is impressive.
ComicBook – Skybound and Universal Team for ‘Birthright’ Movie – This could be very cool.
IGN – Syfy Renews Happy! for Season 2 – Yes please!
ICv2 – In Marvel’s Quest for New Hardcore Fans, X Marks the Sweet Spot – Very interesting read. Thoughts?
Reviews
Comics Bulletin – Dissonance #1
Talking Comics – Doomsday Clock #3
MINOR SPOILERS BELOW
Dissonance is a new science fiction comic series that weaves a complicated web of backstory and plot. The story is set up with a lot of potential, but ultimately, felt like it could have delivered much more. To sum the story up as simply as possible, there is a parallel world to Earth named Terra Fantasme that houses a futuristic people named The Fantasmen. These beings have shed their skin so to speak, and are spirits that lack conscience, or souls. This is where the story sets up the plot device that these beings need humanity as mortal hosts to give these beings a chance to end their war, and achieve prosperity once again.
After combing the galaxies for years, they find Earth. Here is where the desperate species makes a pact with humanity to combine into something new, and in turn, share their technology and their immense knowledge with Earth. This merging is called Dissonance. While these concepts to me are very interesting, the delivery felt like it could have been much better. At the same time, this story does tell a complicated set up, and has to do it in a few pages, so I can understand why it was done this way.
The story is written by Singgih Nugroho and Ryan Cady. After the initial set up I mentioned above, the rest of the comic follows the assassination of a model at the international fashion show. This piece was confusing, and takes the story into government corruption like we’ve seen many times before. I am still a little lost on why this was done, aside from it being something to start a war or chaos with the humans that are protesting those who want to embrace or achieve dissonance, and those who are protesting against it. The book continues to set up what appears to be our villain or villains, while there is some scheming going on with some of the other characters who have their own agenda. We also meet what appears to be our main character, who in my opinion, was introduced far too late into the comic.
The art by Sami Basri has a nice clean look to it, with the colors by Sakai Yuwono popping and bringing the book alive. The art to me is the best thing this book has going for it besides the concept, and there are some panels that look quite fantastic. It shares a similar look with The Wicked & The Divine, so if you like that style, you will like this too.
I would say that this series could improve in the next issue or two, especially with needing so much set up on a complicated story like this, but as of right now, it left me wanting a little more coherent and perhaps slower sci-fi story. You’re mileage may vary, and you may very well enjoy this comic more than I did, I just was expecting a different kind of book.
Story: Singgih Nugroho & Ryan Cady Art: Sami Basri
Colors: Sakai Yuwono Letterer: Jake Ady
Cover: Varsam Kurnia Creator: Melina Curphy
Story: 5.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Pass
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Wednesdays are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in!
Each week our contributors are choosing up to five books and why they’re choosing the books. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this Wednesday.
Joe
Top Pick: Marvel Two-in-One #2 (Marvel) – The Human Torch and The Thing, half of the Fantastic Four are searching for Reed, Sue, and the kids. This has such potential, and I enjoyed the first issue. This should give a massive nostalgia overload for older readers like myself, but also give enough excitement and exploration for the younger crowd.
Action Comics #996 (DC Comics) – We are getting so close to the 1000th issue, and this series has been a blast since Rebirth. I love the addition of Booster Gold recently, and the best Superman book keeps on going strong.
Abbott #1 (BOOM! Studios) – I like a good crime story, and this first issue of this new series that deals with a detective investigating the occult coming from BOOM looks very promising.
Doomsday Clock #3 (DC Comics) – Who’s watching the Watchmen? Apparently the DC Universe as the two combine for a series that has been very promising so far. Sure, this could fall flat on it’s face, but for now, I am enjoying everything, even if it is just for nostalgias sake.
Dissonance #1 (Image Comics) – I love a good sci-if tale, and this looks promising. It is always fun to jump on a new indie series, and we need more science fiction comics.
Jon
Top Pick: Abbott # 1 (BOOM! Studios) – A great example of what comics can be when every member of the team contributes the best of their talents. Abbott has all the makings of being the next Locke and Key.
Frankenstein Alive, Alive Trio (IDW Publishing) – If you missed these three issues when they were printed years ago, IDW is giving you another chance to catch up before the long awaited final issue launches next month. This is a book that’s worth owning for Bernie Wrightson’s art alone and is probably the best value for money you’re going to find at the comic shop this week or any other.
Hungry Ghosts #1 (Dark Horse/Berger Books) – Either Karen Berger or Anthony Bourdain would have been enough for me to give this book a shot but having both attached made it an absolute must-read. I can’t recommend it to everyone (see my full review for details) but for people looking for a horror anthology inspired by Japanese ghost stories its a nice taste of what Dark Horse’s new Berger Book’s imprint has in store.
Raven: Daughter of Darkness # 1 (DC Comics) – Raven was never a character I had much interest in or knowledge of but this book has me hooked for at least a couple more issues. It doesn’t even matter that I missed last year’s mini series. Marv Wolfman manages to use plenty of the tools that made old comics so accessible to new readers without the storytelling ever feeling too retro.
The Demon: Hell is Earth #3 (DC Comics) – This six issue limited series continues to be a fun take on one of my favorite characters with a twisted sense of humor and great visuals.
Alex
Top Pick: Ninja-K #3 (Valiant) – Although I enjoyed the previous series the title character starred in, Ninjak, the current series is everything I could want in a comic and more. The art is fantastic, and secondary only to the exquisite writing from Christos Gage. I love this series’ look at the murky history of the Ninja Programme, and at the history only hinted at thus far.
Doomsday Clock #3 (DC Comics) – I still haven’t decided if I expect this to be a train wreck of epic proportions, or somewhat enjoyable… but I’m looking forward to finding out.
X-O Manowar #11 (Valiant) – Now that the opening three arcs are over, I’m really looking forward to seeing what Matt Kindt does with Aric now that he rules an entire planet (or, rather, is failing miserably at ruling a planet). One could argue there’s real world parallels to people interfering in local politics and royally fucking the local situation up while acting the savior, but there’s more meat on that bone than I have space for here.
Brett
Top Pick: Southern Bastards #19 (Image Comics) – Any time an issue comes out it’s at the top of my read list. It’s been an amazing series and I don’t mind the gap at all as every issue delivers an emotional punch.
Avengers #677 (Marvel) – “No Surrender” has been excellent so far so I’m all in for this weekly series.
Detective Comics #973 (DC Comics) – Things are falling apart for the team in this finale of the latest arc. I’ve really wanted to see how this one ends.
Legion #1 (Marvel) – After the excellence of the television series, I’m intrigued to see what this limited comic series does.
Star Trek: Discovery #2 (IDW Publishing) – I’ve really enjoyed the television series so to get more in this world has me happy. The first issue added some depth so looking forward to the second to see what it does.
Designer Melita Curphy and writer Singgih Nugroho team up with artist Sami Basri for the sci-fi/fantasy drama Dissonance, coming this January from Image Comics and Top Cow Productions.
In an alternate world where Earth is populated with powerful human-spirit hybrids called Fantasmen, Folke and Roisia Herviett, two siblings with opposing worldviews, are challenged to prove their worth and take up their parents’ positions in a devious group that secretly runs the world. Meanwhile, Seraphim, a Fantasmen warrior guard, is sent to prevent a catastrophic event from affecting the Earth and its own universe.
Dissonance #1 (Diamond code: NOV170644) hits comic book shops Wednesday, January 10th. The final order cutoff deadline for comics retailers is Monday, December 18th.
