Get Lost On The Edge Of Everything With Far Sector #1
by Josh Davison
Mild Spoilers Ahead
A murder has been committed on the Platform Ever Forward on the City Enduring, a planet-sized city in the farthest reaches of the known universe. This is the first murder that has been committed on the City Enduring in over 500 years. Its police force is in no way equipped for this, so freshman Green Lantern Jo Mullein is going to have to lead the murder investigation. In doing so, she and the city’s chief of police meet with the Trilogy, a parliament made up of the three races that live in the City Enduring. Lantern Mullein suspects that the Trilogy know something about the murder, but every being in the City Enduring is devoid of true emotion. Gathering information is going to be one hell of a challenge for Lantern Mullein.
Far Sector #1 begins the newest DC Young Animals title, this one starring a new Green Lantern assigned to the farthest reaches of space in an alien society very different from our own.
It also has the potential to be the best Young Animals title yet.
It reads like a cyberpunk detective story. The environment is advanced and full of people with styles and technology unfamiliar to the reader. The only recognizable figure is our protagonist, who is both a Green Lantern and a human.
Jo Mullein introduces the society and culture of the City Enduring through narration and acknowledges the narrative conventions she must adhere to if the story is going to be coherent and compelling to the reader. She is aware that she has an audience being plunged into the deep end here, just like herself.
The culture, species, and visual design of City Enduring are both creative and intriguing. It’s a strange society, though that “lack of emotion” qualifier seems a bit tenuous given the behavior we see from the inhabitants of City Enduring.
Jamal Campbell, the breathtaking artist from Naomi, is back in Far Sector. His detailing, texturing, and color art is incredible. The character designs are slick, memorable, and hold your attention. The visuals of this book are impactful, and I can’t wait to see how they develop in issues to come. The only drawback is that the layouts and dark coloring of the environment seem to strangle the otherwise brilliant artwork at times. Even then, the book still looks spectacular.
Far Sector #1 is a strong start from N.K. Jemisin and Jamal Campbell. Jo is a very engaging character, and the world of City Enduring is absorbing. The visuals are incredible, and the story is tense. It grabs the reader and strands them on the alien world with Jo, leaving only the Green Lantern as a guiding light through this strange yet brilliant world. Needless to say, this one gets a recommendation. Give it a read.
Far Sector #1 comes to us from writer N.K. Jemisin, artist and cover artist Jamal Campbell, letterer Deron Bennett, and variant cover artists Shawn Martinbrough and Jamie McKelvie.
Final Score: 8.5/10
