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Smoke and Mirrors #1

By Dan Horn
March 27, 2012 - 10:07

It's almost unbelievable to think that Mike Costa, writer of IDW's critically acclaimed Cobra series, has, until now, never penned a creator owned book. Smoke and Mirrors #1 marks his first endeavor into the fertile territory of creator owned properties.

Smoke and Mirrors #1 is all about world building, and it's certainly an interesting world that Costa presents: magic is taught in schools and this magic is harnessed to advance modern technology and industry. However, Costa seems to have been snagged by a common comic book trend, which is writing for the trade collection and not the issue. In his painstaking strides to erect this fantasy world, Costa heaps on exposition that is every bit as boring as the young protagonist infers that it is through heavy sighs and eye-rolling. The script itself is scatterbrained, and I'm not sure most of its developments were properly framed or even relevant. A good bit of mystery, surrounding an illusionist who doesn't seem to use magic in the same manner that everyone else does, and a wicked cliff hanger freshen this debut issue up a bit, but not nearly enough.

Ryan Browne's art here isn't much more than workmanlike, neither realistic nor stylized. It merely seems to subsist for the sake of conveying a sequential narrative without contributing much of its own brio or verve. However, the digital watercolor finishes evoke a certain depth from Browne's images that just barely keep the interiors afloat. Artistically, Fiona Staples' gorgeous variant cover is the standout here. The cover price of $3.99 really can't be justified in this case, if it can be rationalized at all in any case.

Smoke and Mirrors #1 offers readers an intriguing premise, but fails to find its own plot until late in this first issue and is hamstrung by its mundane artwork.

Rating: 5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12