GIDEON FALLS #1
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Andrea Sorrentino, Dave Stewart, and Steve Wands
Edited by Will Dennis
Published by Image Comics
Release Date: March 7, 2018

Reuniting one of the best creative teams in comics today, the debut of Gideon Falls brings mystery, small town secrets, and mental illness together in one of the most compelling first issues I’ve read in years.

This issue introduces two radically different characters — a compulsive trash collector and a recently transferred Catholic priest. The two characters have no connection we see so far, save an image that seems to appear to both of them in a dream.

The text is sparse through much of the issue, handing the bulk of the storytelling to Sorrentino’s deft layouts and expressive composition. We are brought into the story literally upside down, perhaps a hint of the juxtaposition these two threads will develop given it recurs a couple of times through the issue.

The issue feels full to overflowing with story, despite many pages with few or no dialogue or narration. The meaning is in the looks, the expressions, and the emotions.

Stewart’s colors are expressive, yet earthy. There is a muted tone, a sort of soft focus, that draws you into the story. The edges seem to blend, the figures fitting to the background, while still keeping them defined.

Lettering by Wands takes the sparse text and places it expertly, guiding the eye in tandem with Sorrentino’s art. Nothing is misplaced, no moment is wasted.

Gideon Falls is one of the finest examples of craftsmanship I’ve seen in comics in recent years.

The Verdict: 10/10