Part Wacky Racers, part Suicide Squad, and entirely beautiful, well-paced, and with sharp dialogue, “Backtrack” #1 is a great debut issue, with tons of promise. What the creative team has concocted on just a few pages is impressive in terms of introducing a brand new world and situations.
Written by Brian JoinesCover by Marco D'Alfonso
Illustrated by Jake Elphick
Colored by Doug Garbark
Lettered by Jim CampbellGuilt weighs heavy on former criminal “wheelman,” Alyson, who led an illicit life that left her shattered into pieces. But when she hears about a massive cross-history car race that grants the winner a chance to correct a single mistake in their life, Alyson will drive from the Big Bang to the death knell of the universe for the grand prize.
What would you do if you could correct the biggest mistake of your life? The one that shames you, hurts you, leaves us without loved ones. How far would you go to fix it, were you presented the choice and opportunity to do so? Those are some of the fundamental questions poised by the first issue of “Backtrack.” But if that seems too ominous, overly dramatic, and devoid of levity, this issue will prove that it is possible to balance a serious macro plot, with sharp and comic situations.
Starting with “Backtrack”‘s aesthetics and visual identity, Elphick and Garbark were able to quickly create something unique, with a very distinct style. It starts with some more experimental panel design, staying as far removed from traditional grids as possible. Similar to the themes of racing and speed, panels cut across the pages like a fast lane, with diagonals mixed with wider utilisation of the page. That design is also deployed to call attention to specific parts of the page: for instance, early on the page, six vertical panels showing different moments of the protagonist life, all converge to that lead down on her luck at a dirt bar. Very good forced eye movement supporting the overall narrative.
Character design is also very well done. Readers will understand part of the character motivations by posture alone, the way they dress, and how they bounce off one another. Facial expression is certainly another focus point, with the quieter talking head moments retaining their charm given how borderline cartoony those expressions are.
Colours by Garbark add to that coherent sense of unity, with a sharply lit palette reinforcing the more zany aspects of the book. Especially on the latter half of the issue, where the stakes dramatically increase.
Without going into spoilers, suffice it to say that the organiser of this dastardly race has some powers up their sleeves, leading the main characters and all racers to very unexpected setting. On these situations, Elphick and Garbark really cut loose, with even more imaginative pages being presented, unusual creature design, and even stronger facial expressions by all involved.
Back to the main story and plot, Joines clearly is passionate about this book. There is a lot of mythology woven into this first issue, and clearly a lot of backstory that readers will experience as the series progresses. The similarities with the “Suicide Squad” are more related on how dangerous the situation really is and the perils that await all competitors, but less so in terms of how rotten the character are. Sure, they all seem unsavoury and with a chip on their shoulder, but there is also a sense of redeeming quality about them, of being rotten not by intent, but rather by the off circumstances life has thrown at them.
Much can be assumed at this point in terms of the actual puppeteer coordinating the races, as some obvious conclusions can be drawn. That said, given how imaginative the entire final product is, readers should not be surprised if those most apparent theories turn out to be red herring some issues down the line.
All in all, “Backtrack” #1 hits all the right spots of what a new series should be. It presents an absurd scenario, but somehow grounded in reality. It pushes the boundaries of what the series can achieve, by throwing pre-assumed limitations off the window halfway through the story. Characters are rich and compelling, with undertones revealing their history, offering just enough to keep the audience guessing and expecting more. Over at the art department, Elphick and Garbark are a happy marriage, with experimental page and panel design combining with a color scheme that accentuates the action-packed nature of the book, the scenarios and setting that open up, and the open-ended nature of how the plot can be resolved.
Final Verdict: 8.6 – “Backtrack” #1 is an imaginative, explosive first issue, filled to the brim with creativity, sharply written dialogue, and compelling characters that one cannot hope to see interact in the vast situations this first issue presents on its second half.
