Spectacle #1 Review

Writer / Artist:Megan Rose Gedris / Oni Press What do you get when you cross a murder mystery, an eccentric circus cast, and proof that the bond between sisters extends beyond this life? Spectacle #1 sets out to answer just that question, no chill necessary. If you’re drawn to visually interesting artwork, this is definitely a series to consider. Gedris’ artwork has a playful picture book quality to it that flirts with the idea of shapes and shadows without quite committing, lending the story a fantastical atmosphere that’s delightfully subtle. Gedris actually does paint with watercolors, so whether the textures are traditionally or digitally produced it’s obvious that she’s familiar with how to achieve just the right balance of pleasant pastel and saturated hues. The simplistic lines used for the faces also yield surprisingly striking expressions and the wandering text feels less like spoken word than a feeling you happen to intuit; you can tell that the sequential art is thought less in terms of cinematic quality than page composition and I really appreciate artists who take advantage of their medium in this way.

The characters are inventive here as well, especially since it can be tricky to bring originality to a circus setting. This circus is neither an uncomfortably close family nor a horrific torture trap, but really a cut and dry job where the members have agency. Everyone from the chef to the mermaid to the ringmaster has a distinct personality and natural dialogue,…