Review - The Forevers #1 (@blackmaskstudio)
"Can you feel it? It's starting."
How fame affects someone depends on the person. Some people can handle it with no problems while others become consumed by it. Getting famous is no easy task, unless of course you make a dark pact like in The Forevers #1 from Black Mask Studio. The issue is written by Curt Pires, illustrated by Eric Scott Pfeiffer and lettered by Colin Bell.
Live fast. Live forever. Five friends struggling on the brink of stardom sacrifice everything in a black magic pact that brings them all the wealth and glamour they ever wanted. Years later though, the "glow" is fading. But when one of them dies, and they feel a surge of magic rise amongst them, they soon realize that they all share in the power of the glow. And when a member of the group decides to kill the rest and claim the glow for their own, they suddenly find themselves fighting for their lives. As they search for the killer's identity, each of The Forevers must face the macabre reality of the lengths to which some people will go to be adored, and to make certain that the spotlight never fades...
Fame's grip in people is sometimes vice-like and Pires draws upon that for The Forevers #1. Each of the major players in the issue is coming to grips with their "immortal" fame and Pires uses that as a motivation to drive the story forward. Seeing how each character interacts with one another lends a fascinating twist to the story and Pires gives the characters relatively complex relationships to sort out. In that sense, The Forevers #1 is a very effective first issue, as Pires lays out the players and the stakes. Much of the issue takes a look at the players living out and enjoying their newfound lives, but Pires builds all that up to a heady crescendo that sets the tone for the rest of the series.
The artwork in The Forevers #1 is very much photorealistic and Pfeiffer uses the style well. Because the characters look so real, there's a connection that the reader can make between today's pop culture world and that world of the book. In fact, many of the characters look very similar to real-world counterparts which further strengthens that bond between fact and fiction. Pfeiffer also imbues each panel with a clearly defined emotion that further sets the tone for the action on-page. All the colors used are darker and washed out, yet they still manage to give the reader plenty of insight into what's going on.
The Forevers #1 is a book that's not unlike The Wicked and the Divine in many regards. The Forevers made a deal with the devil and are reaping the benefits while also dealing with the fallout. Pires allows each character to have their own unique voice that makes their interactions feel as painful as one would imagine. Pfeiffer's artwork is visceral and drags the reader into the world of drama and danger. The Forevers #1 is a dark first issue that is aiming for bigger thing as it unfolds.
The Forevers #1 is in stores now.
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