Rock And Roll Can Save The World: Reviewing ‘The Prism’ #1-3
by Tom Smithyman
It may sound like something out of This is Spinal Tap, but this is The Prism – where rock and roll can save the world.
In the limited series, a black substance – called, appropriately enough, Smoke on the Water – has infected the Earth’s oceans. Its filaments are spreading, killing marine life and threatening plants and animals on land. The only thing that can cure this infection – maybe – is rock music.
It probably has something to do with energy, frequency, and vibration, which is why The Prism creator Matteo De Longis includes a quote from Nikola Telsa in the first issue. For some reason, the band has to be launched into space. But there really isn’t much more explanation other than that. In other words, it’s a pretty flimsy excuse to put on a concert or record an album. Still, who needs a reason to rock out?
After setting up the very loose premise, De Longis focuses most of the first issues on assembling the band that will rid the world of the smoke. There’s a drummer from Brooklyn, the womanizer from Los Angeles, as well as few more members from around the world. De Longis shines a spotlight all five of them, though for most, their role in the band is not entirely clear.
The story reads more like a graphic novel than a limited series. Issue #3 starts a new chapter, but issue #2 seems to start in the middle of the previous one. It’s a fairly common occurrence as publishers try to pick the right way to get their stories into readers’ hands, but it still makes for a disruptive experience.
De Longis’ illustration style leans heavily on manga. The characters would look right at home in a Gatchman comic book, though the style works fine for this story. The first issue starts off strong visually with some beached whales and a concert with the guitarist parachuting to the stage from space. But the illustrations lose their momentum when De Longis focused on getting the band together. Now that the gang is assembled, he may get is illustrative mojo back.
The Prism is a curious story, which is trying to be a bit more than it really is. The concert is fine for now, but there’s always a more popular band out there.
The Prism #1 and #2 are available now. Issue #3 will be available for purchase on December 20, 2023.
Overview
The concept of a rock band saving the Earth from an existential threat is kinda cool, but the execution is often flawed. The story lacks some needed explanations and while the illustrations start off strong, they become more humdrum in subsequent issues.
