They say life is about the friends we meet along the way. This is the case with Benjamin. The new issue 3 series, which will be released on June 18th, features a self-absorbing guy who may or may not be the reincarnation of a long-time sci-fi pulp author, but when he returns, what should he lean towards? After reading Benjamin #1, the answer is a random guy explaining that the phone isn’t.
What’s immediately clear when reading Benjamin #1 is that Leomac still does his best job. Known for his incredible horror books like Basketful of Heads, the art is extremely detailed and expressive, beautifully colored by Luca Bertele. It is very realistic yet bright and vibrant, straight from the comic book world. Something strange sci-fi happens, but for the most part, this issue is packed with reality. This is something Benjamin J. Koi isn’t sure.
It’s safe to say that a big riff on Philip K. Dick’s life and that Dick fans have read this book. As someone who worshiped Barris, there is a metachault element going on here, riffing on the prolific pulp sci-fi novelist, creating a fictional situation where he actually returns. It seems like one of his stories has come to life, and this time it’s not a heavy drug that makes it a reality.
This could be Trippy.
Credit: ONI Press
Writer Ben J. Winters does an incredible job capturing Benjamin’s blowhard, the character of a successful novelist. This is a man who gets lost in his own story, and now he is trying to understand whether there is one of him. Marcus, on the other hand, is someone who wants to help this jerk for some reason, and is kind and patient. While Marcus’s relationship with his father is clear, he is also just a sweet man. The dynamics are persuasive, but you know, Marcus will probably get injured, but Benjamin may be able to learn something along the way.
It’s safe to say that manga like this don’t appear very often. Publishers like ONIPress are the few who publish it. Aside from the strange, beautiful and blurry moments, this is primarily a dialogue-driven story between two men. This issue has no action or spectacle. This is mainly because the spectacle resembles the novel by Philip K. Dick. This may make this a bit flat and uninteresting, but once you capture your imagination, you’ll ride it all.
Benjamin #1 is a quirky, meditative cartoon that rarely sees the light of day, but when it does – it’s worth paying attention to something as good as this, especially with a creative team. With echoes from Philip K. Dick and a keen visual style courtesy of Reomack and Luca Bertel, this first issue sets the stage for a cerebral journey that values ideas and characters more than spectacles. It’s not for everyone, but those who lead to that quiet strangeness are eager to see where it’s heading.
“Benjamin” #1 is an attractive brain journey
Benjamin #1
Benjamin #1 is a quirky, meditative cartoon that rarely sees the light of day, but when it does – it’s worth paying attention to something as good as this, especially with a creative team. With echoes from Philip K. Dick and a keen visual style courtesy of Reomack and Luca Bertel, this first issue sets the stage for a cerebral journey that values ideas and characters more than spectacles. It’s not for everyone, but those who lead to that quiet strangeness are eager to see where it’s heading.
Leomass offers some of his best artworks – richly detailed, expressive, beautifully colored.
Smart, Metatextual storytelling with the powerful Philip K. Dick Vibes.
The fascinating dynamics between Benjamin and Marcus.
Shedding light on actions or spectacles – a large amount of dialogue-driven.
For readers looking for traditional sci-fi thrills, it may feel too late or abstract.
