The first issue of this miniseries from Say Anything frontman Max Bemis and “Forgetless” illustrator Jorge Coelho impressed us with its complexity and nuance, and seemed like the beginning of one unconventional superhero story. But is that really where this tale, set in the darkest corners of hipsterdom, is taking us?
Written by Max Bemis
Illustrated by Jorge CoelhoWith great power comes great responsibility, but who has time for that in the New York City art scene? Tim is finally realizing that his powers are not just a manifestation of his manic depression, and what better way to use them than to exact total revenge on the hipsters and jocks that have tormented him? Tune in to issue #2 of POLARITY where Tim defames and debases hipsters as only SAY ANYTHING frontman Max Bemis could write. Each issue comes with a free download for a new original song written and performed by Max Bemis!
Last month’s gory conclusion left Tim on the brink of a realization. Is he really a superhero, or has his mental disorder overwhelmed him completely? It’s a big enough question to warrant a late-night visit to his psychologist, and what we learn there has all kinds of surprising consequences for the rest of the issue.
While this is a high-concept tale for sure, what really distinguishes the writing is Bemis’ feel for detail. As Tim goes about his life with some devastating new information, there are so many great little memorable moments between him and the people he encounters. They’re the kind of details that inject verisimilitude and character and even a little levity, moments that could be described as “quirky”, only I’m sure we’re all allergic to that word by now. To explain the nature of these incidents would give too much away, but generally speaking, there’s a tendency toward revealing things about people that are typically kept secret, and the result is delicious.
It certainly doesn’t hurt that there’s a standout comedic moment at the beginning of the issue involving Tim and the very deadpan Dr. Mays. It’s the kind of sequence that wrings a laugh out of you, however uncomfortable the subject matter, and gestures toward the driving spirit of the comic as a whole – the humour comes out of the absurdity and grimness of it all, and ratchets up the tension rather than relieving it.
This isn’t a perfect issue, writing-wise, and it shares its flaws with the first. While much of the dialogue is fantastic, some of it feels stilted, and while the pacing of the comic is generally good, it kinds of falls apart at the climactic scene, which comes about way too easily and resolves too quickly. Coming at the end of such a well-thought-out series of encounters, it almost doesn’t matter – but bearing in mind the compression of ideas involved in putting together a miniseries, it almost make you feel as though an extra issue or two would have given this story some much-needed breathing room.
Coelho’s art is graceful and somehow Gothic – not in an over-the-top castle-and-bats way, but in its tendency toward lengthened, thinnish bodies and cavernous indoor spaces. It suits the introspective/manic mood of Bemis’s narration beautifully, putting the characters at odds with their environment in a subtle but noticeable way.
As in the first issue, the hipster fashion on show is spot on and even a little humbling (our grandchildren are going to make fun of us so hard). Similarly, the star of a free concert during the climactic final scene is about as deft a conglomeration of all the tackiest personalities in popular music as you could possibly ask for. And as Matt noted in regard to the first issue, the poses and expressions are spot-on; these are faces we’ve encountered before, presented in a fresh, and not overly satirical, way. Felipe Sobreiro’s colours tie it all together nicely, highlighting the over-the-top elements with all kinds of verve before retreating into moodier hues.
Overall, “Polarity” #2 is a strong follow-up to an excellent first issue, and it’s got so much in it – humour, a bit of social criticism, and yes, something of a superhero story – that (hipsters be horrified!) it’s actually got wide appeal. Be sure to get onboard with this one before it’s cool.
Final Verdict: 8.8 – Buy
