Writer: Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski
Artists: Paul Azaceta, Ron Riley (colors)
Publisher: Boom! Studios
148 passengers died in a plane crash in the Atlantic. The truth is 147 passengers died in a plane crash, one passenger survived, and nobody knows why. The survivor is Nicholas Dane, and he has changed since the he first set foot on the plane. The problem is investigators aren’t sure why the plane went down; terrorism is under consideration as natural causes are unlikely. Another problem is how Nicholas Dane avoided drowning after the plane hit water and was submerged for almost half a day. Some wonder if Dane’s survival was a miracle. But some of the powers that be don’t believe in miracles. They believe Dane could have been involved in blowing up the plane.
Soon Dane realizes he has memories that aren’t his own and can’t place why he has them. Dane knows the names of people he has never met before. For example, he knows the name of the first person to question him and knows how he used to look. The questioner is disturbed by this and immediately assumes Dane had something to do with the plane crash. But that isn’t the only problem, as someone wants him dead. Later, while at the hospital, a mysterious voice beckons him to run away, his life is in danger. Before he can, an attempt is made on his life.
Good premise doesn’t always mean a good story but almost everything works in this first issue of Talent. Parts of the story have too much dialogue. Early in the issue a lot of explaining and analysis is done when Nicholas Dane is found. Later, when Dane is explaining himself, again, there is too much dialogue. This can be forgiven as the reader needs to understand the story in order to enjoy it. And a first issue almost always has a lot of telling to do. The strengths of this issue far outweigh its weaknesses. The writing is overtly cool, blending suspense and a grasp of the improbable. The suspense builds from panel to panel, and this peaks the reader’s curiosity. The writing is excellent because of an almost perfect combination of action and dialogue. No reader will be bored with the Talent #1. The artwork comes across like a cartoon with a lot of blacks and grays added. It’s different than anything else being published by Boom! Studios because of Azaceta’s very human figures and Riley’s choice of dark colors used to accent the comic. In the end this issue is an incredible start for a series and a team of creators with a lot of promise. Talent is a good mystery with a good hook.
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