NEVERBOY #1 Review

Has Dark Horse got another winner on their hands from the co-creator of Killjoys? Or is this a series that you should avoid at all cost? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

VARIANT COVER BY GERARD WAY!

Most people take drugs to escape reality. Neverboy, a former imaginary friend, does the opposite. He’s found a loophole that allows him to stay in the real world. As long as he stays medicated, everything’s perfect. But when the drugs wear off and reality fades, the forces that guard the borders between the real and the imaginary will be ready to drag him back to where he belongs.

Imaginary people in an unimaginary world! A great concept, right? Well that’s exactly what I thought going into this series, and though there are some wonderful psychedelic moments that reflect this, it ultimately failed to live up to my expectations. Having a lackluster opening plot, that doesn’t show any form of excitement until the end, Neverboy is most definitely a series that has a lot to prove, and I can only hope it does so soon. Before it becomes forgotten.

The main draw for me was the fact that Killjoy co-creator, Shaun Simon, was working on this series, and though he has captured my interest in this first issue, he’s failed in grabbing my excitement. The main reason that I feel this opening issue fails to entice is the fact that it tries to be too mysterious. Yes, mystery is a great tool, but an opening issue needs some depth to allow it to stand out. The main character Neverboy also failed to impress, as though the thought of looking into his fantasy world seems alluring, in reality he is a little dull.

The artwork also left me divided, as though the rough style that Tyler Jenkins produces works wonderfully next to this strange concept, with Kelly Fitzpatrick‘s punchy colours complimenting the psychedelic tone, it doesn’t quite captivate. Feeling very flat at times, and lacking intensity, there is a jarring tone to Jenkins’ art, with the only character to stand out being Neverboy himself. The art does however excel in the more stranger moments, with the wackier elements being more suited to the artists style.

Neverboy has a lot to make up for, with this opening issue leaving this fanboy a little disheartened. Yes, it delivered a wonderful concept, with the culminating twist allowing for an alluring cliffhanger, but as first impressions go, it needed something a little deeper. Nevertheless, I still have hope in this series, as though I can’t recommend this issue, I have faith in the creative team.