COGNETIC #1
Written By James Tynion IV
Art by Eryk Donovan and Juan Manuel Tumburus
Published by BOOM! Studios
Release Date: October 21, 2015
Any story that begins with psychic killer dolphins has got to be good.
Annie is the assistant to the Director of the FBI and the loving wife to Mel and mother to Karen. As her boss meets with an important client, bodies start to drop from the Empire State Building. Throughout the issue, a psychic hivemind begins to invade people, drawing them into a mysterious fold. Annie decides to step up to the plate, coming face to face with her brother and revealing her own psychic tendencies.
Just the name of the series, Cognetic, drew me in, and I am supremely glad I took the bait. The story is creepy and full of suspense, and was a great start to the series. Despite the shift in scenes, there seems to be a sense of cohesion, a common thread leading to the culmination of the first chapter. I loved the premise enough to definitely pick up the next issue.
James Tynion IV composes an interesting narrative, one that I’m excited to see unfold. Very quickly, it is apparent that Annie knows what’s up, and watching her react to the growing terror was an excellent way to frame the story. A first chapter is never going to fully flesh out characters, but we are given enough of a taste to want more. I trust that Tynion has a lot in store for us and that the ante will most certainly be upped as we explore this tale of psychic hiveminds.
Whenever I try out new art for a series, I imagine the feel it seems to evoke. Eryk Donovan and Juan Manuel Tumburus’ art matches definitely conveys what it is supposed to. Especially as the issue developed, I understood the necessity of the somewhat rough, scratchy lines and more somber colors. Cognetic is not supposed to be a touchy-feely ride through our emotions. It’s supposed to be dark, creepy, and cryptic, and Donovan and Tumburus definitely deliver on that front.
If you didn’t know already, I’m a sucker for diversity. Not only are there diverse presentations and faces, but Annie is married to a woman. I’m constantly looking for new queer leads in series and to have one right off the bat with Annie in Cognetic is wonderful. Just that fact alone was enough for me to say, “I’m ready for issue #2!” I look forward to seeing how Annie and Mel’s relationship expands through the series and am excited to see what other diverse people may show up.
Cognetic #1 was definitely me reaching out of my comfort zone and I’m more than glad I did. BOOM! has been a wonderful publisher and a place where I found more of myself reflected in various characters. I’m also a huge fan of psychic powers, so I’m interested to see where the story goes as more issues come out. I highly recommend this issue.
The Verdict: 8.5/10
