Publisher: Boom! Studios
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Artist: Chris Wildgoose
When it comes to comic books, variety is a good thing, especially variety in publishers. It’s good to know that there’s more than just the heroes of DC and Marvel or the shadowy figures of Image and Darkhorse Comics. In this case, one such publisher that has floated under the radar is Boom! Studios, perhaps most well known for their Power Rangers series, and we’re not talking about the kid-friendly version that some of us will remember fondly from years gone by. But perhaps publications like Boom! Studios and the titles they present are better off as the hidden gems of the comic book world. For some of the best treasure requires a little bit of digging and when it comes to the series, Alienated, I’m pretty glad that I dug.
Written by Simon Spurrier with art by Chris Wildgoose, Alienated is a short 6 issue series that follows three characters living in a small town somewhere in America. Samuel, Samir, and Samantha, or the three Sams, are all unique individuals with heavy personal burdens that leave them feeling isolated, misunderstood, and angry. A serendipitous meeting in the woods on the way to school results in the three interacting with one another, and coming across a bizarre-looking blue egg hanging from a tree. Interaction with the egg results in the three individuals becoming truly “alienated” in addition to their already existent and, somewhat, self-imposed alienation from society.
The egg gifts/curses the trio with the ability of telepathy, which enables them to communicate mentally while also having access to one another’s deepest and most personal thoughts, something they manage to put restrictions on as they come to grips with these new powers. Stranger still is that the egg would eventually go on to hatch and bear an alien to the three who returned to the sight where their shared power was acquired. Named Chip by Samuel, the little blue alien becomes a secret pet for three protagonists who go on to discover that this little critter is capable of many impressive feats. Feeding mainly off of dreams, Chip grows, learns, and adapts to his new world, forming an attachment to his three owners, feeding off and reciprocally benefitting off of their well being, while being deeply and painfully effected by their destructive emotions.
Chip’s ability gives power over time and space and the characters use him as a vehicle for confronting their demons from the past in an attempt at closure and retribution. Each character's identity is shaped by events better discovered by the readers as the series progresses, and each seems to develop a different bond with Chip and different opinions as to how best to harness and use his incredible power. But the doors opened to our protagonists due to this level of power have serious implications and consequences. Their newfound power presents them with an intimate connection to one another that forces them not only to work through their issues but to guide one another through the torrid landscape of teenage life, the haunting effects of the past, and an uncertain future.
Alienated stands tall amongst comics that look to provide accurate commentary on who and what we all are, and this is a series that hits home and hits deep. It reminds us that we all live out our lives with one façade or the other, walking around and looking down on those that we feel are inferior in various ways compared to our worldviews. There are the tough guys, the attention seekers, the contrarians, and the lonely creatives. But what the comic shows so well is that beneath all of this we are all the same needy, entitled, and frightened children, scared to death of the world and those we share it with.
What Spurrier has done so well is to show the protagonist for exactly what they are, which is indeed what we all are. These were not a few chosen individuals with strong wills and/or the best moral character, but deeply damaged individuals who were presented with an unintentionally rare opportunity to test their convictions and ideals. It has shown effectively that the main characters are not necessarily the good guys, but that goodness is a hard-fought reward that comes from a backdrop of pain. Like Chip's ability to extend his tentacles to any part of time and space, Alienated seems to do the same, giving the reader the ability to mentally imagine and reach out to those who find a kinship with so many of the different characters.
The artwork is breathtaking, showcasing impressive illustrations boasting sharp lines and lush visuals which amplify the emotions of the characters and the places that they occupy and act in. The composition and style also hold great uniqueness, and what struck me was how Wildgoose went beyond the traditional rectangular spaces of the comic, sometimes doing away with them all together. Standard procedure with comics entails sticking within the panels that make up a single page. Each comic acts as a collaborative effort, not simply on the part of those who create them, but also between the creators and the readers, who are tasked with filling in the gaps of each scene with their imaginations, the white spaces in between the panels acting as the canvas. Wildgoose found opportunities to use this canvas in various areas for characters to travel between, with the aid of Chip, of course, but it served as yet another bit of creative originality that makes Alienated stand out so well.
Alienated managed to do in six issues what many comics fail to do in 60, and that’s craft a beautifully original story that feels entertaining, personal, and deeply engrossing. The cosmic and supernatural powers that Chip provides is balanced out well by real problems that keep the comic grounded and down to earth. The three characters are each so unique and connect with readers in a way that makes one want to reach out and provide a sympathetic shoulder to lean on. Their thoughts and pasts are not only known by each other but play out as an open diary for readers to connect and relate with. Alienated is a series that shows how difficult life is, but shows that we are all in the mud together with our different masks on, hoping that some will have the patience, compassion, and understanding to make us feel comfortable removing them. This is a comic that leaves its mark and lingers in the memory long after it finished, Alienated is a must-read, and on that note, I wish you all happy reading :).