Having read Tommie Kelly's The Holy
Numbers (review to follow soon –
it will be a bit more in-depth as it covers the whole story), I was
interested in seeing what else he had done. Where better to start
than with something out right now. THEM issue
one. In the books I have read, Tommie's stories cover the theme of
our place in the universe and society while at the same time telling
a very human story. With The Holy Numbers,
he was looking at religion, spirituality and its affect on society
and our connection with the universe. From what I have read so far,
with THEM, he seems to
be dealing with art, fame or the idea of launching an idea into the
world or maybe all of the above. I haven't figured it out quite yet.
The
issue starts with a plant growing as a metaphor of an idea being
launched unto the world. We then see the protagonist, Roman,
desperately running from THEM.
They are only shown as shadowy figures. Who are they? Our first
mystery. We then skip back to a scene of him on stage basking in the
light of his fame. He has created a masterpiece. What is it? Mystery
number two. We then cut back to when he's an ordinary, unrecognised
artist. He is in getting art supplies when the universe hands him a
black book. It has name and the date on it. The owner, Mr. Sheldrake,
found it while looking through things. Another mystery. Roman feels
the universe or Sheldrake is messing with him. He thinks the universe
wants people to be unhappy. Sheldrake quips that he feels less happy
since Roman walked in. Sheldrake worries that the artist is being too
pessimistic. He assures him that he is content. He is lying.
Roman
gives us a run through of his life. He sleeps all day and works on
his painting at night. It is his only escape. When he is not
painting, he is thinking. And drinking. It dulls the voices that have
been his constant companion. He feels disconnected from people. He
doesn't understand them. He is not a success with his art. The unpaid
bills and debt are voices telling him he is a failure. Voices like
that of his father whose voice is loudest. So he paints to escape.
When he is out for drinks, he hears that someone that he knows, John
Morrison, has gained fame after “painting for about two minutes”.
John's life is everything that his isn't. The universe, Roman feels,
hands him things when he wants them. His friends like Morrison's art
and feel that his success will be good for them. They think he should
let it go. Roman leaves the bar. Walking home he continues to ponder.
He feels Morrison's success only highlights his failure. He has
stolen his spot in the universe. He feels defeated. His spot will
never come. The issue ends with Roman getting struck by a car.
I
really liked the first issue. I enjoy Tommie Kelly's art and the
story is a good mixture of the everyday story of someone trying to
make it in the world and the big theme of our place in the universe.
One issue is not enough to review the overall theme as I feel this
issue covers a lot of them, as I noted at the beginning of this
review, it could be art, fame or launching an idea into the world or
all of the above. Some writers try high concepts while sacrificing
the basic story. There is a big idea but no human element to help us
connect to the story. Tommie Kelly manages to have the high concept
while giving us Roman to empathise with. His is an everyman story of
trying to make his way in the world. I also enjoyed the unanswered
questions. There was enough of Roman's story for us to start to
understand where the story going but there are enough
mysteries there to get you to come back for issue two. I will be
reading it. I want to know more about THEM.
*****
Follow Tommie Kelly
Website: http://www.tommiekelly.com/
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