Looking at this list of exceptional comic books got me thinking that I should take the opportunity to review some SpecFic that's written in a more nontraditional format than my usual fare. And by nontraditional I mean a graphic novel, as opposed to the word-heavy works of literature that I normally prefer. I am very picky about my graphic novels. They must include a compelling story line that's clearly communicated through both images and well-written text, instead of relying on just one or the other. Balance, in my opinion, between these two forms of communication with the reader can be a large part of what either makes or breaks a graphic novel.
A friend has been very patiently waiting for me to read the copy of "The Manhattan Projects" that he lent me a number of months ago. I finally got around to it, and genuinely enjoyed the read. The story (the series, actually) involves historical figures Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Robert Oppenheimer, and other scientists involved in the real-life Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. But their adventures begin as WWII is coming to a close. The novel starts out simply enough, with Oppenheimer being recruited by the U.S. War Department to the Manhattan Project. But soon our dour band of geniuses are dealing with trans-dimensional kidnapping, aliens, fractured personalities, and brain-eating goodness. Oh, and FDR is a supercomputer. I, for one, didn't see that one coming.
The art is well-matched with the story, clean line drawings that don't sacrifice detail but refrain from cluttering the space in each frame. The people themselves seem to mostly be drawn with big heads and gangly appendages, which could easily be a commentary on where their true prowess lies or just an artistic style. Since the characters' backstories also make appearances, it's helpful that the past is depicted in red and blue ink, while the present includes the whole spectrum. A big nod to Jordie Bellaire, who did the color for the book, for that ingenious way of indicating time.
If you like the tv show "Fringe," enjoy drastic departures from the historical record, and want to see your favorite physicist heroes come into their full scientific potential, check out the "Manhattan Projects" graphic novels by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra. Volumes One, Two and Three are available now at your favorite local bookstore.
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