The first issue of “A Voice in the Dark” hit us like a pile of bricks. With this second chapter, things get even more harrowing on the darkest radio show in town.
Written and Illustrated by Larime Taylor
“BLOOD MAKES NOISE,” Conclusion
Zoey’s talk radio show will become a deadly public forum for her twisted listeners before she will even know what hit her.
When we last checked in with Zoey, she had set up a call-in radio show where listeners can vent about their darkest fears and desires. But when her first show goes on the air, Zoey finds she has to respond as well as listen – and when a call gets darker than she expected, there’s terrifyingly little she can do.
The plot of this issue has a claustrophobic direness to it: it’s beginning to look like every character we’re encountering has some kind of tie to murder and darkness, whether they’re actively participating in it or not. This atmosphere echoes Zoey’s perspective nicely; a killer on the run from her own murderous tendencies, she sees death everywhere, and worries that she’s contaminating other people.
All the while, Zoey’s Uncle Zeke is a solid anchor of positivity and good sense. He’s an excellent foil to Zoey, pointing out the ways in which her conduct and reactions during the radio show were unassailable. At the same time – immersed as we are in Zoey’s perspective – we get the impression that he wouldn’t ever really understand what’s going on with her, given full disclosure. It’s a catch-22: those who are in the position to help in this story are also those who can’t really empathize with the position of the troubled person.
Zoey’s call-in show feels like an attempt to bridge this gap – and as we see in this issue, there’s only so much she can do when a caller presents her with something really serious. That’s where most of the suspense of this issue comes from: Zoey’s trying to reach out and help other people, but she’s as isolated by her experiences as she is (in a sinister way) empowered by them. Moving forward, the real question is whether she’s going to be able to establish a sphere of influence. And if she does, will it ever really be a positive one?
The momentum of this story is even more impressive given that this is visually-told story about an aurally-centred medium; most of this issue has Zoey motionless in a booth, talking and listening. But the issue never feels stagnant; Taylor’s art manages to convey so much of what’s going on inside these characters’ heads that the tension is always running high.
Taylor’s art doesn’t hit you with the darkness of it all outright, though. The clean, rounded lines and textured greys make this book, in the most literal sense of the phrase, easy on the eyes. The prevailing smoothness and integrity give the impression that we’re seeing the unassuming surfaces of things, what an outside spectator with no knowledge of what’s going on would see.
Undercutting the overall polish are the subtle poses and facial expressions – sometimes so subtle that you don’t catch the effect of them until second read. The real darkness and the interest of this book lies in these moments; whether it’s the appraising way one character looks at a gun, or the off-putting smile of a supposedly charming rock star, the feeling really comes across, loudly contradicting the banality of the circumstances. It’s not always perfect – sometimes a look or a gesture will seem a touch too stiff – but the overall subtlety and grace of Taylor’s portrayals comes across on every page.
All told, this is an involving issue and an effective second chapter that draws us deeper into Zoey’s world while maintaining an aura of tension and mystery. Moving forward, there’s no telling where this series is going; but knowing Zoey, it’s going to be worth your while to tune in.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – So good.
