From Michael Malkin and the artist known simply as Kay, and released through Alterna Comics  comes Complex. First published digitally on Comixology, Complex now sees print as a trade paperback. It’s a story of mystery and deception, all wrapped in a sci-fi shell with maybe just a superpower or two. This is just the first taste of the story, so take a look.

Complex #1

Complex Vol. 1

Towne is a small community seemingly with just a handful of families and houses. Zach is the primary character in this volume, and he works at the utility plant, taking care of the town’s electricity. Zach has a lot of hazy memories of his wife seemingly drugging him whenever he thinks he’s discovered the secret of Towne. It’s through a series of flashbacks that we learn that the spouses of several of the inhabitants are actually part of some larger conspiracy to keep Zach and the others in town, imprisoned and unknowing of their true powers. It’s only when he finally confronts his wife, that she reveals his electrical powers and things change rapidly from there, resulting in Zach being further trapped, this time in much worse circumstances.

Complex Vol 1

Complex Vol. 1

This is only the first chunk of Complex’s story, so there’s still a lot to figure out. Even so, writer Michael Malkin packs the story into this trade. We learn of Zach and the others, the powers they possess, and the conspiracy to keep the in Towne, and more. The desert outside of Towne hints at something catastrophic having taken place in the world at large, but only time will reveal that. While Malkin’s writing isn’t perfect, this is a strong showing for an indie book by an unknown writer. It takes elements from LOST and other well-known sci-fi/mystery stories and puts a spin on them. The big reveal with Zack at the end makes the purpose of Towne even more sinister than just the imprisonment aspect, and the whole situation came as a surprise.

Complex Vol. 1

Complex Vol. 1

Kay’s art is interesting. It’s simple and unembellished with color. At times, it’s quite detailed and really gets the message across. Her use of silhouettes in many occasions really helps to set the mood of panels. And yet, there are times when the characters just look “off”. This could easily be to the often warped perception of many of the characters, but it still goes noticed. Overall though, it’s a style that fits the book and the story well.

All in all, the story is worth a read. Malkin writes a story that is a good addition to the current crop of indie sci-fi and Kay makes it look pretty great. There seems to be plenty left to tell about Towne and it’s worth telling, I think. It’s currently available on Amazon for under ten bucks, which is quite a great deal.

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