Mind MGMT #21 Review

In Issue #21 of Mind MGMT, no one can hear you scream…

Unless of course someone in the room can read minds. But that is another matter entirely. The point is, this issue tips its reflective shades to Larry Hama’s G.I. Joe #21 from March 1984. And sure, almost exactly 30 years have passed since that groundbreaking “Silent Interlude” issue, but one thing remains true:

Actions speak louder than words.

The official description from Dark Horse:

MIND MGMT goes quiet this month in a special “silent” issue! But in a world of psychics and mind readers, silence screams louder than words!

* Comics visionary Matt Kindt (3 Story) reinvents the silent issue!

* Immortals! Siamese twin assassins! Fights! Thoughts!

* Comics’ most innovative series.

As you can see from the preview images, this issue is actually quite full of printed words. In fact, it may be more words per page than I have ever seen in a Mind MGMT issue.

To the unmanaged eye, it may very well appear that the point of a “silent issue” has been missed. In reality, it is Matt Kindt‘s own take on the custom, as evidenced by his tweet from January 28th, 2014:

Penciling MIND MGMT #21 right now. In the grand tradition of issue 21s it’s a “silent” issue…but only in a way that MIND MGMT could do it!

And boy, oh boy, did he get it right. What better way to ramp up the tension from Issue #20’s cliffhanger, than to silently plunge right in to its natural progression: A FIGHT (or fights) TO THE DEATH (or deaths) !

As I have read, and re-read this issue, one thing has become apparent – never expect answers from a silent story. And while many thoughts are feverishly flying from action-packed page to action-packed page, one thought keeps driving our motley crew of heroes: Survive.

Needless to say, this doesn’t leave much room to answer my questions.

Which brings us to one of the most interesting aspects of this issue: pure introspection. As the reader you feel trapped in the minds of those you are reading. Jumping from mind to mind, feel to feel, woe to woe. And after experiencing this issue, in this way, I cannot imagine an alternative. It makes me wonder what the other issues would be like, if all we had were thoughts to guide us from panel to panel.

All this innate depth, and Matt still manages to spatter additional aural themed meta-plot character qualities throughout the already blood soaked pages.

Amazing.

Oh, and if you haven’t already, be sure to check out the back covers of each of the issues from this latest volume. Something magical is coming together…