MattGrant
Friday, March 28, 2008, 06:19 AM
<img src="http://projectfanboy.com/images/reviews/paradox1.jpg" align="left" hspace="10">Title: Paradox City #1
Publisher: Axiom Digital Media (http://www.axdm.com)
Writer: Jordan Lowe
Art: Michael K. Easton
22 pages, Black and White/Grayscale
$3.50
Safety Content Label: About a PG-13... some graphic violence, crime, and adult situations.
Publishers Blurb:
Paradox City - The Heart of Tomorrow! That's the slogan on the signs that line the highways on the way into town and on the front of the souvenir t-shirts they sell to tourists in the hub. It's catchy, but it's also convenient. Being the "Heart of Tomorrow" ignores the two things the city fears most: yesterday and today. Paradox City is the envy of the world. The most concentrated source of Axiom on the planet, it is a place of technological wonders, astonishing magic and heroes we can all be proud of. But its history is built on sorrow and its present has more dark corners than most are prepared to see. It is a city whose people are separated by geography, economics and purpose, but are bound forever by a common destiny. This is Paradox City. These are its stories.
Reviewer Comments:
Paradox City takes a unique look at the superhero pathos and altruism in general. The best way I can describe it is, well, tragically surreal! Paradox City, to the outside world is haven of heroism, a place of wonder, but one step inside and you realize that its actually a jumble of self centered, so-called do-gooders who are more concerned with with their color schemes, status, and paychecks, than they are with actually helping people.
Issue #1 comes packed with two tragic tales. The first, "Paradoxity," is about a man who has waited his whole life to come to Paradox City to avenge his father, or at least emulate him. His father died in a botched heroic attempt (you'll find that, in Paradox City, heroic acts usually don't go as planned). Like many of PC's heroes the man becomes more concerned with his look and the quality of his equipment, and eventually his own importance, than actually caring about helping people. You'll have to read the PC #1 to find out what happens, but believe me, its a shocker!
The other tale is called "Another Dox Box Scoop." This one is a narrative, kind of a blog style tale, written by a kid in PC. It gives an interesting perspective of the history of "the Dox," and what it's like growing up there. The truly morbid part of the whole deal, though, is that this kid observes, takes pictures of, and then recounts a tragic event from a total outside perspective. It's just stuff happening, he's totally unconnected, other than being interested in what's going on (yet not interested enough to help). This shorter story, above all, really give you a feel for the apathetic vibe of Paradox City.
Overall, I found Paradox City to be an interesting take on superhero type stories. The art is fairly unique, I would have to describe it as multi/mixed-media, with drawn characters over a wide variety of background styles, and "colored" in grayscale. You definitely know you're entering a different kind of world. Overall, if I had to liken the Dox to something, I would say it takes the sheer volume of kooky heroes/villains of Savage Dragon, and presents it with the tragic surrealism of the old Aeon Flux cartoons. Definitely an experience to be had!
Publisher: Axiom Digital Media (http://www.axdm.com)
Writer: Jordan Lowe
Art: Michael K. Easton
22 pages, Black and White/Grayscale
$3.50
Safety Content Label: About a PG-13... some graphic violence, crime, and adult situations.
Publishers Blurb:
Paradox City - The Heart of Tomorrow! That's the slogan on the signs that line the highways on the way into town and on the front of the souvenir t-shirts they sell to tourists in the hub. It's catchy, but it's also convenient. Being the "Heart of Tomorrow" ignores the two things the city fears most: yesterday and today. Paradox City is the envy of the world. The most concentrated source of Axiom on the planet, it is a place of technological wonders, astonishing magic and heroes we can all be proud of. But its history is built on sorrow and its present has more dark corners than most are prepared to see. It is a city whose people are separated by geography, economics and purpose, but are bound forever by a common destiny. This is Paradox City. These are its stories.
Reviewer Comments:
Paradox City takes a unique look at the superhero pathos and altruism in general. The best way I can describe it is, well, tragically surreal! Paradox City, to the outside world is haven of heroism, a place of wonder, but one step inside and you realize that its actually a jumble of self centered, so-called do-gooders who are more concerned with with their color schemes, status, and paychecks, than they are with actually helping people.
Issue #1 comes packed with two tragic tales. The first, "Paradoxity," is about a man who has waited his whole life to come to Paradox City to avenge his father, or at least emulate him. His father died in a botched heroic attempt (you'll find that, in Paradox City, heroic acts usually don't go as planned). Like many of PC's heroes the man becomes more concerned with his look and the quality of his equipment, and eventually his own importance, than actually caring about helping people. You'll have to read the PC #1 to find out what happens, but believe me, its a shocker!
The other tale is called "Another Dox Box Scoop." This one is a narrative, kind of a blog style tale, written by a kid in PC. It gives an interesting perspective of the history of "the Dox," and what it's like growing up there. The truly morbid part of the whole deal, though, is that this kid observes, takes pictures of, and then recounts a tragic event from a total outside perspective. It's just stuff happening, he's totally unconnected, other than being interested in what's going on (yet not interested enough to help). This shorter story, above all, really give you a feel for the apathetic vibe of Paradox City.
Overall, I found Paradox City to be an interesting take on superhero type stories. The art is fairly unique, I would have to describe it as multi/mixed-media, with drawn characters over a wide variety of background styles, and "colored" in grayscale. You definitely know you're entering a different kind of world. Overall, if I had to liken the Dox to something, I would say it takes the sheer volume of kooky heroes/villains of Savage Dragon, and presents it with the tragic surrealism of the old Aeon Flux cartoons. Definitely an experience to be had!