Marcus Wesphal has a rare form of narcolepsy— when he gets excited, he passes out. He’s adapted: homebound life, a harmless infatuation with the girl next door. But when he witnesses her murder and collapses, he becomes suspect #1. Now, he must leave his apartment to pursue a killer. Narco #1 is a great debut that sets up its premise well and delivers some classic horror vibes.
Written by Doug Wagner, Narco #1 is a fantastic start to the series that really keeps things focused. The issue introduces us to Marcus and through various moments, we learn when his heartbeat increases due to stress/excitement, he passes out. Wagner doesn’t tell us this and instead chooses to show us putting Marcus into situations where it happens or he’s trying to manage it.
But Wagner also gives us a character to like with Marcus. He has friends he regularly hangs out with and is rather shy. He’s relatable, an everyman, who is just trying to manage his life… and figure out how to ask his crush out. That’s the build up to the issue which ends with a blood splattering shock that is expected due to the premise of the comic but delivered with a surprise still.
Part of the enjoyment of the comic is due to the art of Daniel Hillyard. The style has a grounded feel about it making Marcus come off as a schlub and a bit weak in a way. This isn’t some super person who will run after some villain but instead he’s clearly borderline wimp. The color by Dave Sewart and lettering by Ed Dukeshire helps round out the look of the comic that’s in Hillyard’s distinct style but also visually is interesting in what it focuses on. Marcus running, the count of his monitor, the way the passing out is depicted, it creates an intriguing look. Then there’s the end which is presented in a fantastic way that ups the shocks and puts the comic squarely in the horror space.
Narco #1 is a fantastic debut that’s an interesting concept and done so in a way that’s just really well done. The characters are easy to connect with and even when you know the concept, it still delivers a punch at the end. It’s a great start that has us excited to see what’s next.
Story: Doug Wagner Art: Daniel Hillyard
Color: Dave Stewart Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Kindle
