FML #1 is about a group of metal kids who face a medley of bizarre foes and encounters in Portland, Oregon during a worldwide pandemic. Riley is a teen that sketches out his heavy metal future with a ballpoint pen between monster movies and band practice. But musical stardom needs to compete with high school, the temper of a former Riot Grrrl mother, the morbid obsessions of a goth sister, and the eccentricities of bandmates that threaten to drive him and everyone around him insane. The balance gets harder after a ritual during a party in Portland’s Forest Park causes him to wake up one day to discover that the creatures, witchcraft, and metal world he’s obsessed with may be a bit closer to home than he preferred.
Misfit kids pulled into an adventure is a story plot that has been around for decades. It’s one I’ve enjoyed over and over again and there’s so much quality when it comes to it. That basic plot idea has been mixed with every genre you can think of with some fantastic results. Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick dives into it with FML #1 that takes a group of kids and adds a little horror and magic to the mix.
FML #1 is an interesting debut. We’re introduced to four girls who are part of a band and a world not far off from our own. There’s fires raging around a city creating pour air quality. Threats of school shootings. True crime podcasts. But, at the same time something is a bit odd about it all and rather off.
That’s part of the charm of the series as this group of kids argue with each other and others in their school and spend the time at a creepy old building telling spooky stories. And that is all where the comic really takes off as one of their games turns all too real.
Part of the charm of it all is David López’s art. Combined with Cris Peter’s colors and Clayton Cowles’ lettering the comic has a look that’s rock and roll and indie with a mix of mainstream. The character designs all have a massive amount of personality but it’s small details on the pages where things stand out. Riley spends a lot of time on his art journal and that journal look is applied at different moments for the comic, even a panel, making things pop. It’s a hell of a choice that takes the art to another level and really drives home the characters, look, and especially the feel of it all. It delivers a bit of punk zine aesthetic to the finished product.
FML #1 is a fantastic start with a style that stands out. It goes in with a vision and a voice and executes it quite well. There’s tons of questions to ask about it all, and there’s some odd things about the kids, but overall, it’s a comic that takes a familiar concept and mixes it up for a unique delivery that we’re excited to see more of.
Story: Kelly Sue DeConnick Art: David López
Color: Cris Peter Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.35 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.45 Recommendation: Buy
Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFW – Zeus Comics – Kindle
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