Weavers #1 Comic Book Review
Weavers is a new comic book from Simon Spurrier, the writer of the Eisner nominated The Spire and Cry Havoc, and recent newcomer, Dylan Burnett (Interceptor). It’s a story about a young man who found himself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, as many of our favorite heroes are wont to do. Sid inherits the supernatural spider that once dwelt inside and empowered a high-ranking member of the Weavers crime family by virtue of being the nearest living thing after a bombing, a bombing that presumably was meant to kill the Weaver and anyone close enough to perpetuate the power imbued by the spectral arachnid. You see, nobody gets to choose who is or isn’t in the family, the spiders choose, and whoever they choose is a made man. The boss sends his daughter, Frankie (who has the power of suggestion, the ability to make people feel, think, or experience, things of her choosing), to test Sid’s loyalty and resolve.
Writing ⅘ – Si Spurrier really has great grasp of fairly obscure mythology in the comic industry right now, which I love. His other book, Cry Havoc, is full of barghests, tengu, norse battle-boars, tibetan vampires, adze, and God-knows-what-else. The Weavers remind me very much of tsuchigumo, Japanese spider-gods who have the ability possess people. The writing is solid, providing unique characters, humor, foreshadowing, interesting extraordinary abilities, and good pacing. I may be biased, as I am a big fan of writers who can incorporate lesser-known mythological figures into their stories, but I’m willing to myself out there for this one. Spurrier has my full attention right now.
Art ⅘ – In such a dark and brutal story it is easy to lose the sense of fun and entertainment, but Dylan Burnett’s art does a great job conveying the emotion and unpredictability of this world while keeping a sense of fun and levity, making it easy to digest bloody splash pages and ask for more. His sequencing is strong and easy to follow, especially for someone so new to the biz. I also enjoyed Tiona Farrell’s coloring. The black and red styling is very dramatic. I know it isn’t an uncommon tactic in comics to use drab colors and insert blasts of a brighter color, but it fits the book perfectly.
Weavers is another very solid book from BOOM! Studios. I highly recommend picking it up when it hits shelves this Wednesday the 4th, and shaming your local shop owner if they neglected to order it!
