REVIEW: Home #3

Story: Todd Black
Art:  Beth Varni
Letters: Zakk Saam
Cover: Yashera Lynn Ames
Review: Art Bee

Here at HCB we have always preached the message of supporting independent comic book creators. Living in our philosophy, I am an avid follower and supporter of Kickstarter. There are six publications out there with my name attached to their development, but the credit goes to the creators. One of the most recent projects I have supported was Home #3, and with that support received issues one and two as well.

It takes a lot of creativity, guts, and devotion to get a project together and bring it to fruition. With that in mind, I always try to be kind to our indy creators in reviews while still being honest to you, our loyal and greatly appreciated readers. This review has been very hard to write to do justice to both. My opinions just flip-flopped five times while rereading and writing it.

Home is a tale of a young, beautiful, and underappreciated young woman named Elysia. She works as a janitor to make ends meet but finds her joy in computer coding, which she just understands naturally. The quality that makes others uneasy about her is her naturally blue hair. One of the main themes in the story is a strange code that appears sporadically all over the place. Elysia is able to manipulate this code to fix things or change things.  


Elysia’s personality is very likable. I was on her side and wanting good things for her right away. The entire first issue is all about getting to know this blue haired girl, but the depth of her character is a little shallow even up through Home #3. We know nothing of her past or family. Granted her time in this world is limited to issue #1, but the details to a character’s background is one of the fundamentals the reader uses to connect to the character.

The concept behind the story is original (to the best of my knowledge) and very enjoyable. Although I felt a little led around by Todd Black, he has a direct and deliberate focus in the story. These combine for a pointed and real plot. In my opinion some of the dialog in all three issues feels very unnatural. Black truly succeeds in leaving each issue off at a point that make you want more.

In issues one and two, Dinh Nguyen was responsible for the artwork, and his work is very good. The style is simplistic but clean and consistent; while the colors were bright and vibrant. In issue three, Beth Varni seems to be trying to duplicate Nguyen’s style, and that work looks a bit awkward.
On page 7 of Home #3, there is a major error in the lettering. In panel 2 the narration uses the word “expect” when it is supposed to be “except”. This is just a simple inversion of the “c” and “p”, which leads me to assume this as an error on the part of the letterer, Zaak Saam. This should have been caught before printing.

Home is not one of the greatest comic books I have ever read, but it is far from the worst. The story creator has a real talent for leaving you wanting more. I will definitely have to keep my eyes out for the next issue for it will have the resolution for the ending of Home #3. It is one of the simplest endings, but the ending still holds so much suspense and anticipation. Black is getting better as he continues his work.