Cul-de-Sac #1 surprised me throughout. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, as I was drawn to this based on Mike Carey’s involvement and the incredible art by Jonathan Wayshak. Nothing else looks like this, and I am here for it!
The opening moments showcase a sort of drug deal that goes bad, but it unfurls so beautifully in its depiction that it drew me in immediately. Sure, I’ve seen movies where a scene like this takes place, but there’s this fluidity to the layouts that Wayshak has created that really captured my attention. The action is fast and easy to follow, and I’m constantly enthralled and leaning in. I expected the mood of this book to be more foreboding and terrifying, and less focused on frantic action, but I was very wrong.
Cul-de-Sac #1 is a fast story, and I became very attached quickly. There’s a lot to build and the team does it well, so well in fact that the early dread blossoms into actual shock. Not only was I horrified at what was happening, but I was fascinated by the array of emotions Carey and Wayshak elicited. Wild action and emotion? Surely that’s a Bad Idea!
Few are able to convincingly write smaller children, Carey makes it look easy. Wayshak’s art style may not be for everyone, as he is coloring some of the pages, but not all. Though, for me, the minimal color really pops and there’s no shortage of emotional depth here. The worst part of this is going to be the wait between issues.
