“Why don’t you stop messing around, Bloom?”
Right from the onset, the antihero main character of this new series finds himself in hot water. Leo Bloom; a private detective with a fitting name for the classic American hardboiled genre. His “partner” is a box. Yes, you read that right; his partner is indeed a box. Because of this interesting and enticing story by Joshua Starnes, the mystery grabs the readers by the neck. It doesn’t loosen its grip for the whole length of The Box #1.
It all begins with a lecture at Columbia University. Anthropologist Professor James Pederson gives a lesson on boxes; specifically their symbolism across various civilisations and their representation in mythology. The Professor, for example, mentions the Greek myth of Pandora’s Box. Once the lecture is over, readers will immediately notice how distrusting of others the professor is. What is he up to? And so, the plot thickens. Despite his reserved nature, we see him get into a car. Only the readers find out how dangerous things are in Pederson’s “real world” – as he puts it. The professor gets abducted.
Enter Leo Bloom. He’s a typically straightforward and slightly cocky private detective. During his visit to jail, the police comes in to collect him. This informal chat for him to share what he knows immediately stirs up trouble for him. The officers suspect that Leo might know a thing or two about the missing lecturer. That, and his penchant for poking his nose into boxes. Keep in mind, we’re still in the early pages of the story. The tension drips salaciously from every single panel.
Leo Bloom investigates with the assistance of his box, which works upon request – at least, usually. Sometimes, it makes decisions of its own, causing situations to escalate. This is something you’ll find in a thrilling scene of paranormal clash between good and evil. At this stage, however, it is too early to establish which is which. What does Leo Bloom know? Why are the police interested in him? Why has a timid academic been abducted? Since there are also a few ugly mugs from the organised crime scene, what is their role in all of this? If you happen to ask these questions; it’s because the story has lured you into a narrative not only packed with mystery, but also action. Lots of it!
Mythology and boxes have crossed the centuries side by side. They are captivating and make for great storytelling devices. For example, in this story, Starnes presents the readers – with a certain flair for action and mystery novels – a cinematic experience in the form of a comic. At one point, Professor Pederson mentions the Ark of the Covenant. Readers familiar with 1980s films will very likely make a connection to the first instalment of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Directed by Steven Spielberg; the film takes inspiration from a story by George Lucas. Readers intrigued by the connection will then find Red 5 Comics, the publisher behind The Box. And that in turn leads them to Paul Ens, former director of Lucasfilm’s Lucas Online, and founder of Red 5 Comics .
Starnes – one can imagine – may be an aficionado of cult films of that period. Perhaps his artistic output stems from the grandeur of epic adventures, like those of Indiana Jones. It’s also possible his inclusion of the Ark myth in this adventure represents an homage. Furthermore, the art and colour creators – Raymond Estrada and Steven Dellasalla respectively – give the series a realistic feel. These enhance the idea that readers will enjoy the experience. Thanks to hues of ochre, silver and blue, along with marked contrasts between light and dark, shadows – or lack thereof – that run throughout the panels; the reading flows naturally. Ultimately, the creators have conceived the panels with a variety and good balance of shots. From long, medium, to close ups, as well as POVs, high angles, Dutch angles and various others. This helps perpetuate the relationship with films.
In conclusion, the story clearly benefits from all these artistic choices. Readers may finish #1 in just one sitting, immersed, piquing interests for the contents of #2. What next then? We will certainly find out in the upcoming issues!
If action, adventure and mystery is what you are looking for, The Box will satisfy your curiosity. You can purchase #1 at Forbidden Planet. If you have been intrigued by the mystery, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments or send us your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter!
