Static
Matt Lesniewski, script, art & letters; Carlos Badilla, colorist
Dark Horse Books, 2021
Static is an actual original graphic novel, with a visual style that would be a fit for an indie comics company much smaller and more esoteric than Dark Horse. It is a dystopian world, and the protagonist is Emmett, a hulking brute of a man who acts as muscle for an eccentric scientist. The scientist is producing Frankenstein-like monsters combining parts of the creatures who have survived in this world. Emmett is mostly focused on getting over an addiction--while running from a gang of violent drug dealers--and trying to reconcile with his wife and son. When he realizes that the artificial lives he has helped to create are conscious and suffering he makes a move that ultimately affects his life in an ironic way. Emmett is a character with very little self-reflection, and Lesniewski's art has a rough quality that suits him. The conclusion feels abrupt, but it is a logical end to the story, and more satisfying than Emmett's death (which was equally probable).
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