Mind The Gap, Vol. 1: Intimate Strangers (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
Image is the smartest and most adventurous publisher of comics these days. They don't pursue all the old tropes, allowing for more character driven books that should be more widely read than typical supers books.Mind the Gap is a metaphysical mystery about the daughter of a rich family attacked and placed in a coma as part of a potentially mystical conspiracy. While the premise of her consciousness finding expression on some sort of astral plane is very sci-fi, the book reads as mostly an investigatorial conspiracy that plays very straight/realistic, almost to a fault. While the book is gorgeously drawn by Rodin Esquejo, and the dialogue is pretty crisp, and the large cast is distinctive and original in tone... the books is kinda slow. It is rare that I don't finish a graphic novel in a single sitting, and this one it took me a week. It got better at the end, which means I'll read the next volume, but the first was just slow, and that is not what I read comics for. I admit that I picked this up based on the cover art, I didn't even read the back. Judge me if you want, I don't care I didn't waste my money that's for sure. I will definetly be picking up the next volume.Volume 1 is the collection of issues 1 through 5 printed by Image Comics.Elle, in spirit form detached from her comatose body, must not only unravel the mystery of her attacker's identify and motive, but her entire life as well.This collection is an excellent kick off of a paranormal who-done-it where the victim is in pursuit of the truth, unfortunately she is outside her body. I'm not sure if it is intentional on McCanns part but the sheer amount of characters introduced adds a level of confusion to the mystery, seems each could be responsible for Elle's current situation.Who could be responsible? Her disapproving mother, over protective father, younger brother, ex-boyfriend, Doctor Hammond, the list goes on. And as the list of possible suspects expands, another person is brought into the hospital in the same state, a Doctor Crenshaw. Before his accident we see Crenshaw with a file bearing Elle's name. The person(s) responsible seem to be multiple, that this is an act of a cover up, Crenshaw's assistant Louise speaks with a hooded character who has also been seen speaking with Elle's mother, and in Elle's memory fragments she is being attacked by an individual in a hoodie.The web that McCann is creating here tying characters to each other broadening the conspiracy, I hope that he is able to keep the quality up through out the work, something of this size has the ability to go really well or really bad.The supernatural world where Elle is trapped is one of her own mental creation and the creation of those 'others' also trapped around her. The concept of the dead, and those in limbo, haunting a hospital is not new but is executed very well; the art excels here pushing McCann's story to the next level.Like I previous stated, the art really drew me to this. I especially enjoyed the tribute to The Breakfast Club. Through out this first collection the use of full page and double page is excellent. I don't like necessarily having to examine small framed comics for details, these full page pieces highlight the artwork and coloring. The coloring, again, excellent use of bright pops of color, the space between the 'other' world and reality depicted with a haze glow that carries off a blue-green sense of loss.
What do You think about Mind The Gap, Vol. 1: Intimate Strangers (2012)?
Detail oriented, slow to reveal, stunning art. Will keep reading.
—Jeanid
Kind of bizarre and I don't know if I mean in a good way.
—Cierra
