Luminous Being (The Silent Film of Cosmic Fury)
Writer: David Arnold
Artist: Jose Pimienta
Colorist: CAP Ward
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication date: September 2024
Becoming an adult is dangerously hard. Growing up in a post-apocalyptic world infested with zombie squirrels is understandably just as hard, if not harder. Penguin Random House’s latest graphic novel, Luminous Beings, focuses on best friends Ty and Burger, aspiring filmmakers who find themselves at a crossroads in their lives after high school. Though Ty initially agrees to take a gap year to bolster his portfolio, a secret he uncovers could devastatingly shake up their friendship.
Award-winning cartoonist Tilly Walden said of the graphic novel:
“A beautifully written adventure that captures the pain and joy of adolescence in a world gone mad.”
Written by novelist David Arnold, known for works such as I Loved You in Another Life, the dialogue in this work is realistic and organic. The characters are all unique, and there is plenty of world-building that alludes to the wider apocalyptic world in which the characters are placed. There are a ton of references to other works of art, especially movies, but they feel very real to the discussions of young aspiring filmmakers and rarely feel out of place. Ty and Berger are wonderfully well-drawn, and you get a good sense of who they are and how they process their experiences. If there is a weakness in the script, it is that the story sometimes loses direction and lacks the tension to move the plot forward in a necessary way. If you prefer a character-driven, less plot-driven story, it may be perfectly fine, but I think it could have been more balanced. There are moments towards the end that weaken the punch, so to speak, and I can’t help but wish it had a bit more punch. Also, the apocalyptic elements are handled well, but there are more questions than answers, and the focus is on emotions and characters.
The illustrations by Jose Pimienta, known for titles such as Twin Cities, are stunning. The moody, atmospheric, soft and emotive style is perfect for the young adult feel of the book and Pimienta’s work is fantastic. The character designs are impressive with the right mix of detail and style for a piece like this. There are moments where Arnold lets his illustrations tell the story and these quiet, delicate moments are some of my favorites in the book. As you read, you can feel Pimienta becoming more comfortable and confident and towards the end of the book, they really start to show off their talents. Arnold and Pimienta have great chemistry and it feels like they work well together and it’s easy to see why these two creators were drawn to each other.
The entire graphic novel is colored in beautiful, hazy colors by CAP Ward. This is my favorite part of the book and I think it’s what gets the most attention. In Ward’s hands, the book becomes a beautiful dreamscape soaked in hues of purple, orange, blue, and black. It’s a testament to how important color is to the comics medium and how it can completely define the look of a graphic novel. This is great work from Ward and I think the future looks bright for him.
Young adult graphic novels have become increasingly popular lately, and Luminous Beings is a great example of what this type of story can do. As someone who’s not too far removed from a gap year before college myself, this story is full of heart and speaks honestly to things people will go through and have already gone through. Well, aside from the zombie squirrel apocalypse.
Overall, Luminous Beings is more of a success than a failure. The story has some growing pains, but the dreamy, hazy atmosphere at its heart is fantastic and speaks to the strength of comics as an emotive medium. This book will speak to many young people at a crossroads in their lives, giving them comfort and reassurance that things will be OK. For that alone, it’s well worth the read.
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