Review: ‘Christopher Chaos’ #1 Is Anything But Pedestrian
by Anton Kromoff
Welcome to the table,
It’s no secret I enjoy weird stuff. There is something fun about non-traditional stories that hook me and keep me reading just to see where things are going. It’s kind of like when you are listening to a jam band, and they just find their groove. All the songs and musical ideas bleed into each other and you have no idea what you are listening to or what is coming next. You come away from the whole thing with a smile, enjoying the experience and looking forward to the next time that group of artists gets together so you can see what they cook up.
It’s a free-form, non-traditional, out-of-the-ordinary experience, but for people like me who dig that kind of this, it’s a good time.
The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos #1 feels exactly like that if you could condense it, add some rad colors, and get it to adhere to the pages of a comic book.
The story is based on an idea by James Tynion IV and honestly, I just want to sit down with him and ask
“What did this pitch sound like?”
It’s f#cking killer. The script is by Tate Brombal and it reads like some kind of oracle of Delphi fever dream, with art that pairs so well it’s scary being provided by Isaac Goodhart. The colors by Miquel Muerto are vibrant and intentional and the lettering by Aditya Bidikar is well laid out and clearly done by a skilled hand.
Touted as an LGBTQ+ horror-hero coming-of-age series that’s as much Invincible as it is Doom Patrol, the book does not miss the mark on any front.
One of the things I really loved about it was it did not feel tropey or token-esque in its representation. Other things Anton loves about this book are the werewolves, strange ghostly magic gun-wielding entities, strange moments of beyond-science, and the scene-stealing Peggy, who I hope gets much more time on these beautifully rendered pages.
If you are looking for something that is mind-expanding, full of heart, and will keep you guessing what comes next from page to page, then The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos is going to toggle all your switches in the best possible ways.
In the best possible way, I have no idea where this story is going but as someone who has more copies of The Invisibles than any person probably should, I’m locked in and ready for whatever wild ride this is going to be.
Until next time, let life get a little weird… it’s a ton of fun!
Summary
The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos #1 is like listening to a jam band just starting to find their groove. All the songs and musical ideas bleed into each other and you have no idea what you are listening to or what is coming next. You come away from the whole thing with a smile, enjoying the experience and looking forward to the next time that group of artists gets together so you can see what they cook up. This book feels exactly like that, if you could condense it, add some rad colors, and get it to adhere to the pages of a comic book.
