Comic Book Review: Cages

November 21, 2008 by Richard Caldwell
Filed under Reviews

Cages GN
Written by Xander Bennett
Illustrated by Melanie Cook
Published by Insomnia Publications
Reviewed by Richard Caldwell

Sometimes, the way out is the way in…
This here book- Cages, is an introspective science-fiction adventure. Set some time ahead in a post-apocalyptic future, the lead characters are a triad of children who find themselves in a nonstop chain of events. A progression from prisoner to harbinger to finding all questions answered by way of revealing the worldly devastations inflicted by sciences unchecked.

Truth be told, this is a mother of a compelling read.

A first effort from the writer, who has crafted a smart plot consisting of as many turns as fate has nuance; with solemn innuendos planted throughout of the disasters aplenty that politics and technologies badly mixed could well bring us all to oneday face. This is a painted world of cause and effect, with the story forging the thin gray line bridging the two uncomfortably close, as a dual foothold begging decision can be a whole definition of imprisonment unto itself. Ideas can be as binding as iron bars, and I applaud Bennett for finding the means to express such a mature statement via a landscape crowded with genetic and robotic monstrosities and the shadowy hands pulling the strings of all. This is high concept excellence with inoffensive execution.

The art, while at times suffering from the shaky-lined faces of an unsure inker, was overall realistic in tone and pace. The layouts were cinematic in scale throughout much of the story, and flowed with a naturalness that pulled me in like a fish on a hook. As some of the more clustered action sequences seemed a bit awkward in detail, every character in this book MOVED as a flesh and blood human should, which is an understated craft few artists ever come close to matching so well. Highly impressive definitions of pose and kineticism.

The colour work looked to me quite like digitally-enhanced watercolours, and complemented the lineart graciously.

My biggest qualm with the material was in the sound effects, as they came off a bit less dynamic than such a story called for. Competent, but somewhat out of place- like a sublime glitch.
As a package, this is the best damn comic I have read in awhile. Please follow my lead on this. Thinking outside the box is well and good and ideal, and sometimes- as in this story- we are pained to realize that the box itself just might be bigger than presumptions lead us to believe. If not every exit needed is marked, then you find center and trust your instincts.

In the world presented in Cages- chance may not be the final say in the inadequacies of mankind.
For good or ill, take one yourself. This is artisanship.

The book will be available in all good comic shops in the UK initially with a US release to follow. Find it now through Amazon.

Diamond Distribution order code NOV085310
http://www.cagescomic.com/
http://www.insomniapublications.com/