Unwritten

Last week I read Chase, which was an excellent collection of stories from of one of the modern comic book masters. I enjoyed that so much that this week I wanted to read something I knew would be good. Something that I knew was a guaranteed hit. Those books were Unwritten Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity, and Unwritten Vol. 2: Inside Man, written by Mike Carey, art by Peter Gross, published by Vertigo.

(See all volumes of this series in our TPBs & Graphic Novels category!)

A condensed version of the published hype:

In volume 1, we meet Tom Taylor, the son of Wilson Taylor and the unwilling namesake of the protagonist in his dad’s wildly popular 13-book fantasy series. His father created the Tommy Taylor fantasy series, boy-wizard novels with popularity on par with Harry Potter. The Tommy Taylor cottage industry of movies, video games, and geek-ridden conventions is given an extra dash of drama by Wilson’s having mysteriously disappeared years before, leaving a cynical Tom (who inherited none of his millions) to eke out a grubby living at paid appearances. The book picks up speed fast when Tom realizes some elements of Wilson’s stories might not be made up. In volume 2, more secrets are revealed and new mysteries abound.

I believe Rusty and most of the gang have already been raving about this so I probably don’t need to say anything more but let me lend my voice to the chorus anyway. It’s just great. Carey scripts a taut tale unlike anything I have read in a long time. It is pure Vertigo! Basically, it’s what if Harry Potter stepped out of the book and into the real world? Throw in lots of references to classic literature and you have winner. It’s not often that I am at a loss for words but this book does it too me. Carey creates intriguing characters, action packed sequences, and AND at the same time tickling my geeky-nerdy funny bone by teaching me all sorts of stuff about the geography of classic literature. As soon as I read that Room 101 from Orwell’s 1984 was a real place.. I was sold! Overall, the two books are textbook examples on how to plot a story. There are mysteries, subplots and reveals that occur organically. And, for each mystery solved, another springs to take its place. You can’t help but turn pages because you want to know more and more.

Gross’ art is, as always, very good. His art has never been splashy or over the top. It’s just… good. Except for a couple of places where he distorts anatomy to make all the characters fit into a panel it’s great. The last story in volume 2 was one of the best art wise because Gross changes his style. He emulates the art from an old children’s book with an incredible degree of success. The change in texture really makes that particular story stand out.

If, by any chance, you aren’t reading Unwritten then you need to jump in because this is great. If you miss Gaiman’s Sandman or Carey’s earlier work Lucifer, then this is the book for you.

- David Lee