Advance Review – ‘Dark Spaces: Wildfire’ #1

Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is essentially the story of a heist but heavily implying a heist that’s gone wrong. And given how heist stories can seen rather formulaic, as anyone ever having seen Rick & Morty’s very own heist themed episode (S04 E03, ‘One Crew over the Crewcoo’s Morty’) can attest to, this series’ hook is that the criminal masterminds behind this one are all female firefighters. And already criminals. Well, most of them, anyway. The only one who isn’t is also the narrator of our story, and while the implication is that these co-plotters don’t make it out alive, this is Scott Snyder, a writer who is fond of playing with readers’ expectations. I expect a twist before the series is finished.

As with any first act of a story, one has to establish characters and motivation. That can require a good deal of exposition, something else Snyder likes to include, and always for good reason. As a fan of necessary exposition (I’ve never bought into the old golden rule of just including 200 words or less on a page) , I felt this heavy inclusion was not only justified, but helped establish a good deal of backstory, which is important if we are expected to connect with these characters and root for them too. We learn something about each firefighter and how they came to be in prison, but we also get a potted history the Forestry Firefighters program, which a quick check online informs me is a real thing. To be fair, Snyder is a masterful storyteller and here his skills shine through. 

What makes this debut issue more gripping, other than wanting to know the fate of the firefighters turned would-be heist meisters, is the artwork. Hayden Sherman is an artist I don’t think I’ve come across before, but his work here really helps elevate this issue’s exposition driven plot. After all, there is a lot of standing around even when fighting fires, so to see some of the design and layout choices he makes really elevates the story. Each page is very different from the last. Sherman captures the vast and dangerous majestic scale of the wildfires alongside the more personal and smaller human moments too. 

Adding to this is the colour work of Ronda Pattison, who adds heat to the raging wildfires that inhabit this issue, but also balances and contrasts this out with cooler colours too.  

Of course, with an array of characters being introduced we also have an array of eccentricities and character flaws to soak up too. But, as is inevitable with one lead voice, it’s Ruby Ma Ning, affectionately called Ma by her charges. A strong but maternal Correctional Facility Officer who sees everyone for what they are now and not where they’ve come from. Someone you can’t help root for, just like all of them really. Which is, let’s face it, another important element of a heist plot too. 

So, all-in-all, the main parts are in place and the heist in on! Just how it all works out though, is the fun part to be revealed. 

Dark Spaces: Wildfire #1 is out Wednesday 20th July from IDW Publishing