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‘Folklords #4:’ Advance Comic Book Review

With Folklords #4, Matt Kindt continues to delve into the post-modern cerebral landscape of why #StoriesMatter. Also, what the heck are stories anyway? What happens if we don’t know whether we’re in a story? Who controls our stories? Are our stories based on the privilege of the knowledge that has been given to us? How would our stories change if we knew more? And in turn, I ask, how have those stories changed me and affected who I am? Does Kindt ask all of these question in this one single issue? No! But as a reader (and reviewer), I’m having an active conversation with the artist as I read their work, and these are the questions that spring to my mind when I read this issue, inspired by the adventure our hero finds himself in.

In this fantasy world, when young people pass into adulthood, they are sent out on a chosen quest to discover who they are and learn about the world around them. Think about Rumspringa, when Amish kids are urged to live outside of their community and experience modern technology and vices. Most of the time, the kids in the Folklords world choose pretty simple excursions, but not Angel. He wishes to find the Folklords which is generally forbidden to even mention. Those that forbid it are the Librarians, the Paladin-like guards who also seem to be in charge of the community and the law of the land.

Angel has had visions that inspire him – against threat of execution – to go into the outside world to seek out the Folklords. The last few issues have been about Angel coming into contact with wonderful and delightful variations of folktales. This issue dives down the rabbit hole even deeper and introduces us to a mysterious character that may put an end to all of Angel’s questions and the world Angel knows all together. This issue may also connect this fictional world to another recent series by Kindt…

Like Kindt’s recent Ether series, Folklords deals with the idea of story and how it connects worlds and how it connects us, as readers. It’s fun, funny, and genuinely clever. It plays with expectations, turning myths that we all know on their heads.

The artwork (Smith) and colors (O’Halloran) shift on a dime when they need to. These are two versatile creators that are having as much fun as they can which is a common trait that I find among artists that work with Kindt. Together, their flavor reminds me of the world of Jeff Smith’s Bone. It’s really, genuinely delightful to look at.

The design of the book – from the design team of Michelle Ankley and Marie Krupina and taking those pages and spaces between the story and tying the overall look and feel together – is really wonderful and only adds to the reading enjoyment. The logo is a beautiful piece of artwork.

Jim Campbell’s lettering is also really well thought out, allowing for the distinction between voices and tones to come through in the very specific choices he makes.

Everyone! All of this should say that this is a genuinely wonderful read on all levels!

Creative Team: Matt Kindt (writer), Matt Smith (illustrated by), Chris O’Halloran (colors), Jim Campbell (letters), Michelle Ankley (designer), Marie Krupina (logo design), Eric Harburn (editor)
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Click here to purchase.

Phillip Kelly, Fanbase Press Contributor

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