REVIEW: Factory #1

Weird.

That’s what this comic is. Just plain weird.

Granted, I read a lot of comics and many could be classified as “weird”, whether ot be because of the writing, the art, the concept, or any number of factors. Well, this one sweeps the board.

Factory #1 is written and drawn by French artist Elgo and is set in a dystopian future when all vegetation and mammals (except humans) have been wiped out. A terrible ruler hoards all the best foods, including meats long thought lost, while he only gives the citizens the bare minimum to survive. He and his council also rely on a strange mutant fetus that has the gift of sight to forewarn of any future threats. (Already, pretty weird.) The comic begins by this fetus dying in a grotesque display of crashing to the floor and becoming a montrous blob. The guards don’t know what to do, but before the thing dies, it gives a final prophesy regarding a dangerous pig-man.

Meanwhile, in the desert, the pig-man in question is travelling with a motley crew of men risking their own survival in search of a great wizard. The brain-scrambled twins and their mysterious (and ugly) companion Obaz come across a talking purple monkey that tells of a food source with great nutritious value. What the monkey does not say that these pods are the strange fetuses previously discussed in the comic, nor that they trigger some unusual side effects.

So, there are a lot of moving parts in this comic and the whole issue acts to set up the world and story in a way that is not reliant on narration. Instead, Elgo drops the bits of information throughout and lets the pieces all fall together. I’m going to be honest though… if I was only reading a 4-5 page preview of Factory #1, I’ll would not have committed to buying the book. It has a deep plot that it dives head first into, leaving no room to acclimate to the grim reality. They practically worship these fetuses and the royal guard is made up of pasty, fat slobs and heads inside robotic orbs. There are other elements in play as well, like a stranger with abilities wandering the desert and the threat of the dreaded food inspector, so this oversized comic is a lot to *ahem* digest (and at a higher price point, to boot). I had no idea what to expect with this comic, and I must say it is not what I envisioned. However, kudos for being original.

As for the art, I’d say it was well executed, despite the content being so creepy. There is a difference between poorly executed art and skilled art with a decidedly off-putting subject. Elgo clearly understands how to present beauty, as is displayed by landscapes and certain characters, but overall there is a calculated ugliness in the world that he made the artistic decision to go balls-to-the-wall when drawing them. Too bad it’s a bit overkill for my taste.

Translated from French, Factory #1 is a journey into the weird, upsetting, and strange. I have no clue how they got to where they are or why any of these pod babies, mutants, floating heads, and talking animals exist, but it’s just a bit too over the top for me. Although it is published by Titan Comics and Statix Press, it feels more like something that belongs in Heavy Metal (which I pretty much avoid). Nevertheless, for certain pockets of sci-fi fandom and purveyors of the peculiar, Factory #1 will be right up your alley. Otherwise, skip it.

Like I said… Weird. 2 out of 5 stars.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Author Profile

Robert Anderegg

Robert joined Comic Crusaders in 2016 as contributor, but has been an active online voice through social media for almost ten years. His hobbies include reading and collecting comics, attending theme parks, making music, and driving his wife insane. Deadpool and Nightcrawler are his two favorite superheroes, and while his preference is Marvel, he dabbles in every major and indie label in the comics community. He graduated from UTPB in 2013 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is currently seeking employment in that field. A southern boy at heart, he currently resides in the Midwest.