Advance Review — ‘The Twilight Zone’ #2 Crams A Lot Into A Single Issue
by Tom Smithyman
Overview
Some creators would take several issues to tell a story as intricate as the one presented here in a single chapter. Creator Thomas Scioli crams more than seems possible – particularly from a visual perspective – into every page of this story about astronauts whose thoughts start to become real on an alien world.
Overall
8/10An ancient Chinese curse supposedly warns, “may all your dreams come true.” While the curse’s origins are apocryphal, in The Twilight Zone, that affliction has never been more real.
In the story “A World of Your Wildest Dreams”, Arlo Chapel is the first officer of a spaceship with a crew in suspended animation bound for a distant world. The astronaut’s stated mission is to return with rare minerals, but they secretly want to discover sentient life. For better or worse, they find it.
Creatures start to appear — first a jackalope, and then a creature with wings after one of the crew starts talking about moths. The encounters escalate quickly, with a creature beating another one with a stick, reminiscent of Chapel’s childhood. After a trial that seems oddly Earth-like, the crew discovers the planet’s real purpose.
All of this is the brainchild of comics creator Thomas Scioli, who writes, draws, and even letters the second issue of this black-and-white anthology series. Scioli crams every page with more panels and words than seem possible. That leaves the artwork on the simple side — yes there are lots of fantastical creatures, but they are rendered in a relatively simple way. Still, the point comes across loudly and clearly.
While the writing is interesting — and features a typical Twilight Zone ending that makes you rethink everything you just read — you can’t escape the feeling that you’ve seen this story before. The fake Chinese curse aside, this cautionary tale has been told in many different ways, including a memorable episode of the original Star Trek. That familiarity blunts the impact of the story, even with the slight twist of an ending.
Still, credit Scioli with packing as much as possible. In a time when even the simplest plot gets drawn out into multiple unnecessary issues, giving the reader more story that they expected is certainly no curse.
The Twilight Zone #2 will be available in comic book stores and on digital platforms on Wednesday from IDW.
