REVIEW: The Forevers #4

The whole “group of musicians who want to be famous so they do some dark schnitzel”“ story idea is one that“s been seen many different times. But with any idea, it“s how you encapsulate and portray the story that counts and separates it from other pieces.

The Forevers is one such example, centered around a band called The Futuras who wanted to be larger than life, a band that will always be synonymous with the word “Stardom”“. To achieve these goals, the members came together and dabbled in dark magic with no real idea of what exactly they had got themselves into.

Now we“re put right in the midst of the chaos – band members dying and others trying and failing to escape the creeping feeling that seems to always follow them. In this issue, we learn a bit more about Carl Doherty and his methods to get away, and the impact doing so has had on the people around him.

The Futures is unique both in its illustrations and its storytelling, and the artwork of Eric Pfeiffer throws us into a hazy world of shadows and blurs. Really the artwork only adds to the sinking feeling that these characters must be experiencing, and I don“t think this illustration style would go over well in any other sort of book. The smudgy details make it look like we“re peering through a foggy window and observing the interviews that take place during the beginning of the story and the wanderings of Carl towards the end. It“s a style that I didn“t particularly like at first glance, but after reading the book, it only helps the overall mood and it“s an understatement to say that anything else would simply not do this story justice.

Curt Pires“ writing really makes The Futures seem like a piece of film, and I would not immediately jump to ”˜comic book“. However, pulls it off extraordinarily well and should this series ever transform into a different form of media (yes please!), it would flow seamlessly. Curt is more of a quaint observer who gives the reader more of what they want when the time is right, holding out a good amount of the time to make you wonder exactly what is happening. It goes hand in hand with Eric“s artwork, and overall story has a dark and ominous feel to it.

It“s dramatic and eerie, and not for the faint of heart but stays away from cheap tricks and overdone tropes. I“m looking forward to seeing the evolution of this story, and it“s quite hard not to fall victim to the claws that pull you in when reading The Futures.

Story: 5 Stars
Artwork: 5 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Curt Pires (A/CA) Eric Pfeiffer