AMERICA, THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE—NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO DRIVE…EXCEPT FOR HIM!
As technology in America advanced, cities began creating the GRID—a robotic transportation system that not only made cars obsolete, it made them illegal. But an outlaw named “Clutch” has no choice but to get behind the wheel one more time. What starts out as a race to save his granddaughter’s life quickly turns into a rebellion against technology, fascism, and the future of a divided America. The Last Driver #1 has some old-school car chase DNA within but it’s set in a far off future while commenting on today’s encroaching technology.
Movies revolving around over the top car chases and amazing driving feel like they’re dwindling as a concept and genre. Sure, a film might have a good chase, but the ones where that’s the entire basis are rare. Drive and Baby Driver are two more recent examples when it comes to movies with that focus. The Last Driver #1 hits the gas with a debut that evokes those types of films.
When it comes to Sean Murphy‘s work, I almost always enjoy his art and style but, for me, the writing has been a mixed bag. Some has been entertaining and some has fallen flat. The Last Driver #1 feels like the high point for Murphy right now, with a debut that mixing the past and the future, while discussing today.
The Last Driver #1 is an interesting debut that has an old school feel about it. A driver, Clutch, has a granddaughter who needs medical care and teased with one list drive to get her the life saving surgery she needs. But, of course there’s more to it, as Clutch is well known to the police and being set up. In this world, the oligarchs have won and turned cities into surveillance heavy, AI powered, dystopian nightmares. Cars are outlawed, instead everything relies on computers and the rich and powerful who control the information that powers them. The issue is not subtle at what it’s commenting on.
Murphy clearly has a bone to pick with the future so many are currently fighting. The comic waxes poetically about the power that driving brings to individuals and how it connects us together. It’s a simplistic take, one that is challenged by others present during the discussion but it sticks to the theme that the few are looking to control everything and they’re doing it through technology and forcing its reliance upon us. As a whole, the comic echoes other entertainment, and think pieces, who long for “simpler” times and wax nostalgic about a world that likely didn’t exist. But, those often lack the critique of current issues like this debut. This captures the zeitgeist and addresses instead of just raging against… nothing.
The art by Murphy is solid as can be expected. The contrast of characters and the car with that of the world around them is interesting. I’m sure there’s reasons why certain choices were made, like the make of the car, but for readers, you just need to know there’s some muscle to it. There’s also looks to be some easter eggs in the comic with background characters who look a bit familiar and from some of Murphy’s other work.
What really stands out is the different reading experiences with digital and physical copies. Digital, at least how I read it, are large spreads that may make you need to manage your viewing a bit better, it’s not simple page after page. That’s because the comic isn’t the expected release with the spine on the left or right. Instead, the spine of the physical comic is at the top, forcing readers to turn the comic to read it and providing long pages for Murphy to spread out his visuals. This is two page spreads… the full length of the pages turned. It’s a big difference in the reading experience and enjoyment and the comic is best read in physical form.
Sean Murphy has a hit on his hands with The Last Driver #1. The comic captures the moment with its attack on surveillance culture and the tech oligarchs pushing to control our lives. Mixed with a unique and unexpected print style, the comic stands out this week as a must get.
Story: Sean Murphy Art: Sean Murphy
Color: Simon Gough Letterer: DC Hopkins
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
