The moon is chasing us, volume 1
Author: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artists: Riley Rosmo and Daniel Warren Johnson
Colorist: Microphone Spicer
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Publisher: Image Comic
Collecting: #1 – #5
Publication date: April 2025
Daniel Warren Johnson, a writer/artist for acclaimed author/artist such as Beta Ray Bill and Murder Falcon, will be returning with new creator-owned Riley Rossmo along with Beat’s Comic Book Industry Person of the Year winner and fantastic artist best known for his proof of the series (acquired a new series achievement in June). Together, the two created an incredible fantasy adventure story in which the moon chases us. It sees parents Sam and Duncan trying to support their daughter Penny, who is suffering from a sleeping illness.
Our two main characters challenge Penny’s dream world to fight a war with the mystical cascade in order to find and save the child. Like many of Johnson’s other works, the premise is seemingly simple, but it promotes and gets pushed into interesting and unexpected places while it’s going on. The first volume, which collects the first five questions of the series, lays the foundation for the story and moves you emotionally in ways you may not be ready.
The premise of the story is relatively simple. The mechanisms of how Sam and Duncan enter Dreamworld remain relatively unexplained, with Johnson showing the “real world” section while Rosmo shows the section in the dream. In the course of the first volume, Sam and Duncan fight, in a siege and duel, searching for their daughter Penny to save her. They are helped by Penny’s favorite toys and imaginary friends. Bad, great frog brio, wise and benevolent tash, and mysterious and manipulative pig face. The latter is probably my favorite design in the series. In other words, look at him. It’s so ugly, so cute, so cool. Their journey takes them across the world of dreams. They learn how deep the conflict over Penny is and forever changes the dynamics of their small family and how they see the world. Meanwhile, the series remains an exciting and interesting fantasy adventure that can delight even the most traveled genre fans.
The manga is ultimately a story about parent-child relationships, especially the length the parents go for their children. This is not Johnson’s first exploration of this theme, but it feels like a valuable new take from the perspective of the parents, in contrast to the child. Duncan and Sam’s relationship is so realistic and balanced that even if it creates tension in the other characters, they connect with their predicament to save Sam, whose focus is so determined and that the focus is easy to understand and sympathetic. Much of the series is based on the concept of fear and comfort, given that Sam and Duncan are helped by Penny’s favorite toys and her nightmare plays a role in the story. Johnson and Rosmo are very exploring the boundaries of the realms of fear and comfort, the areas in which they overlap. It’s interesting and the series “Dreams and Nightmare Takes” feels more unique than other huge amounts of media that explore similar ideas. It all comes back to the idea of what parents should offer their children. Will they help us face our fears or will they help us scream at us with comfort instead? It is the core of an interesting theme to explore, and the series takes it without hesitation.
As one of the first series that Daniel Warren Johnson is primarily in writing missions (the other is the transformer), it was an interesting and exciting evolution for him as an artist. He consistently uses artists very often. Without a doubt, due to his own skills in the field, his work feels seamlessly made even without explaining it. His dialogue here is some of the most powerful things he’s ever offered, and he’s really honing his character’s construction and dynamics, so he’s been good at exploring before. From Sam and Duncan to Brio and Tash, all the characters feel well-realized and subtle with a layer of incredible depth explored in the first volume and the rest of the process. Combined with a solid, shocking plot that feels consistently paced, exciting and interesting, it makes it a great reading experience for all. In general, I am a fan of how Johnson uses simple premise stories to explore the theme more deeply. He keeps the story short, effective and impactful. He also has some great tips to make me cry. Certainly, this series is no exception. Bring your organization with you.
Riley Rossmo’s artwork is incredible. He uses a bold, energetic style that doesn’t feel the need to be surreal when it’s not necessary. He has an incredible understanding of panels, pacing and page layouts, knowing exactly when moments become focused and important. His character design sensibilities are also top notch, highlighting the vibrant sense of personality in a dream world. In the 1990s, it was an approach to character design in a JRPG or science fantasy style, and I have an opponent, but I have extensively documented it to express my appreciation for its aesthetics and how it is being used here. Large, flashy weapons, bright colors, and armor that do not follow the laws of physics. It helps to give your story a unique visual style. Rosmo’s artwork improves as the series progresses, giving you the opportunity to try out the styles you set in the first issue. Johnson’s artwork is less than the fairs owned by his regular creators, but it’s some of his best, and every page he draws throughout the series has an intimate, quiet devastation that shows just how good he is to create moments of obvious emotion. The team consistently makes this a joy for anyone who enjoys one of the best looking, most impressive comics on the shelf, and energetic, vibrant comic art.
Overall, the moon is chasing us volume 1 is fantastic. We see the best two incredible creatives doing their best to create a rivet, emotional, and impactful story, one of the best and most exciting cartoons on the shelf. As two parents try to take care of their daughter, they will take you on a wonderful adventure into a dream world. The series is definitely worth checking out as its vibrant, intriguing fantasy world building matches its interesting and unique aesthetic. Equally intimate and personal, but overstated and whimsical, it is a feat of the creative team and one of the best books out there. It may seem to cover familiar territory, but it does so in a new and interesting way, ensuring that the book stands out on every turn, including the most unexpected and surprising. The comics are meant to tell stories like this. This story only works in comics that only work in comics.
The moon follows us, vol. 1 is currently available
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