The latest installment in Ben Sears’s Double+ Universe, “Night Air”, came out just last week. More of a full-on graphic novel than the other entries, the book is presented in both full color and through major distributors. I’m waiting for my copy to come in the mail. Instead of simply hanging around, waiting for the mailman like some French lieutenant’s wife, I thought this was as good a time as any to go back and revisit the inaugural adventure, ‘For Seeking Heat.’
The book was originally serialized at Study Group Comics, but you can also pick it up directly from Sears.
Written and Illustrated by Ben Sears
Double + (“Double Plus”) is an action-packed, all ages adventure comic for the whole family. Two buddies, one of which happens to be a shape changing robot, go on a treasure hunting adventure. It’s Akira Toriyama meets Indiana Jones!
Ben Sears introduces his “Double+” world in a burst of pure energy. Electric and assured, this all ages adventure comic follows a young boy and his robot companion as they infiltrate an ancient temple in the middle of the desert, looking for this mysterious chip. There’re monsters. There’re puzzles. There’s a lot of running around with plenty of instances where it seems like everyone is going to die. There’s a fantasy world that resembles ours, except in all the places it doesn’t. It’s honestly one of the most fun experiences I’ve had reading a comic.
This is a book more centered around its adventure elements. Sears places a larger emphasis on the weird locations and cryptic puzzles than on the character arcs. He chooses to go subterranean with his opening act and seeing this history, this culture buried out in this random temple makes you want to know more about this world. It’s a little bit Indiana Jones and a little bit Adventure Time.
I think it works for the material, though. Sears knows not to overload us with information. He’s more concerned with getting you used to the style of this world, the dynamic between the characters, and the kind of situations they might find themselves in. So we get little sketches of the cast, enough for us to get invested in what they’re doing and to be concerned when they’re in peril. There’s the boy — headstrong, reckless, spontaneous — and the robot — logical, concentrated, calculating — and their rapport grounds the story. A comic like this survives on characters (because we’ve seen all these situations before) and these are two dudes you would immediately think to call up for an adventure. At this stage, their relationship doesn’t exactly drive the narrative as much as it supports the framework.
Far more fleshed out is the design of the world. Sears’s art is deceptively simple, with its pen and ink line work filled with easy to process character designs and some relatively straight-forward staging. He breaks down the page a few times — like at the beginning when the boy and the robot fall out of their train cart after it explodes out of a mountain — but he generally keeps the visuals easy to digest and animated. It’s enthusiastic and difficult to not engage in during any given set piece. Just look at that temple chamber! Dodge that flying hand!
Sometimes he draws from such a far back point-of-view it’s difficult to make out where the characters are, but I think you could argue their tinniness in this eldritch place is sort of the point. The hand-drawn lettering captures the aesthetic and tone of the rest of the book, but Sears uses a small line for the balloon tail, and it takes a few moments to discern who’s talking to whom.
I am, however, especially impressed by Sears’s hatch-work. Along with some reserved instances of screentoning, Sears builds up a strong sense of shadows and lighting, giving the material this real depth and intrigue. ‘For Seeking Heat’ feels dirty and dusty and lived in and Sears’s attention to detail makes it feel like living environment.
“Double+ Chapter One: For Seeking Heat” is truly a fun, engaging, and memorable book. Sears’s energy with the material matches the boy’s overall energy; he offers us glimpses into this world and small beats of characterization but doesn’t overload us with information. There’s a nice balance between plotting and character dynamics. The book has a youthful spirit and strong sense of fun. You’ll want to pay attention to whatever else Ben Sears puts out through here.
