Very engaging and enjoyable science fiction comic that sets up the context and cast very well and then delivers a substantial event. Discord is a library that lies between the thirteen dimensions of the multiverse, providing knowledge to those who need it. Flora, a young girl who has just moved to Washington DC with her father finds Discord and borrows a book. This turns out to be a bit more complicated than it would appear and Flora becomes an employee of Discord. Discord becomes involved in a major problem on a planet in one of the dimensions, the planet is under attack by the Dread Shark and things do not go well for anyone.
Simon Watts has solved the problems of starting a story with confidence and nice attention to detail. Discord and the staff are introduced in a natural and effective way that gives each member of the staff a chance to establish themselves. From the good looking adventurous staff, the pedantic robotic staff and the crusty librarian there are no surprises, they all quickly establish themselves ap personalities in their own right and the internal politics of Discord give them depth. When the action starts, Simon Watts shits the gears of the story seamlessly, mixing a planetary event with up close and personal action by the cast that never looses the balance of the story or slows the momentum. One very welcome aspect to the story is the hard won optimism that emerges.
Michael Wojciechowski’s friendly art is a pleasure to read. The lines are soft and inviting, the cast feel organic and are strongly expressive. The aliens are a nice mix of shapes and sizes, all move through the story with force and intent. The art captures the subtle toughness and strength of the writing, there are sharp dark corners in the story that are brought to life with equal force to the quiet moments, the weight of the story is strongly carried forward by the art. The colouring is lovely, it brings out the details of the story and the cast and gives consistent emotional tone to the story. The lettering is quiet and natural except when it delivers the vital sound effect to make a scene jump off the page.
Discord is a great story and a very inviting comic, it manages to be playful when needed and bitter when required without ever loosing the essential thread that runs through the story, Discord is a resource to help others and it does so.
