Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki’s Assorted Crisis Events #1 throws us headfirst into a full-blown time crisis. Imagine cavemen, knights, and cyborg soldiers from World War IV suddenly popping up alongside bewildered Victorian ladies encountering cell phone stores for the first time. With reality unraveling at every turn, what bizarre event will happen next? Let’s find out!
Camp is producing some excellent and imaginative work right now. His fresh perspective on Marvel’s current Ultimate series is a standout, offering a novel take on the Ultimate Universe while retaining its core appeal. The anticipation for his DC Absolute Martian Manhunter is also high, and the concept is fascinating: a Martian Manhunter not as we know him but as a being from a higher dimension, brought to life by Javier Rodriguez’s distinctive, clean, and otherworldly style. This inventive approach echoes the thought-provoking themes of his and Eric Zawadzki’s new Assorted Crisis Events #1, which cleverly explores our potential desensitization to constant crises and its implications for not recognizing when a truly world-altering event happens.
Credits: Image Comics
We open with Ashley and her broken clock, a resident of a perpetually apocalyptic neighborhood heading to work. Ashley finds her reality fractured: Temporal anomalies like flying cars and cavemen are commonplace. Her already bizarre existence is further complicated by a film crew exploiting the latest crisis. Her friendly neighbor, Mr. Suleiman, is traumatized by the movie’s noise, which reminds him of his former war-torn country. A mysterious stranger warns of an ending crisis. Arriving at work, she’s told it doesn’t exist, or she doesn’t exist? Unclear. The next day, Nazi armies occupy the streets, but it’s just another movie. Defeated, she drinks at a bar and doom-scrolls. Re-encountering the stranger, she defends him from the police and is jailed. She’s released after an indeterminate time, her clock broken into pieces. However, the chaos outside is no longer a film set; is it real or isn’t it? Is this finally the end for this bizarre world?
Credits: Image Comics
Deniz Camp and Eric Zawadzki have crafted a comic that makes you think about the constant crises we face today and how overwhelming it would be to live through them daily. It’s a wonderfully weird and uncanny book, anchored by the protagonist, Ashley, who rolls with all the craziness. I mean, a Jewish actor is playing a Nazi soldier, so immersed in the role he’s crying, all while a movie is being filmed in the background of the comic itself. This odd, fantastical stuff bubbles up constantly in Camp and Zawadzki’s Assorted Crisis Events #1.
You can also connect with Ashley’s constant internal dialogue. Who hasn’t talked to themselves, trying to make sense of things? She’s also glued to the news throughout the issue, and honestly, the stream of terrible events she reads feels like a direct reflection of our society, where every news alert can feel like another disaster. It makes you wonder if there’s something to be said for not knowing everything. What’s surprising is how funny this comic is. It’s so absurd and ridiculous, like the random stranger dropping the line, “Do you know what super-plasma beam does to the human body?” and then just leaving you to imagine the gruesome possibilities.
The scene with Eugene, a husband stuck in a time warp, is interesting. Zawadzki draws him in a way that makes him look almost like a draft drawing, especially compared to his beautifully rendered surroundings. And speaking of visuals, Zawadzki’s set design splash pages are fantastic – so detailed and vibrant that it feels like you’re looking at an actual movie set. Honestly, every page is packed with incredible little details. That said, the story progresses leisurely, and while thought-provoking, the extensive internal thoughts sometimes feel unnecessarily detailed.
Jordie Bellaire’s color work on Zawadzki’s art creates this muted atmosphere. The consistent orange hue and the subtle filter throughout the comic inform the narrative. It’s fascinating how she uses color to make the seemingly ordinary protagonist stand out distinctly against this fantastical but subdued world.
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s sound effects powerfully convey the unfolding crisis. The exploding car’s “CRACKOOM!”, the gunfire’s “BRAKAKAKAKAK” and “BLAM!”, and Ashley’s comical “WHAMP” all contribute to the chaotic scene. The repeated “TIC, TOC” effectively emphasizes the urgency. Otmane-Elhaou’s enjoyment in crafting these sounds is evident.
Assorted Crisis Events #1 plunges readers into a bizarre time crisis where historical figures collide with modern life amidst escalating, movie-like disasters, questioning our desensitization to chaos. Anchored by the relatable Ashley, the comic blends absurd humor and thought-provoking commentary on modern crises, further enhanced by detailed artwork and impactful sound effects. That said, the pacing sometimes lags due to lengthy internal monologues.
‘Assorted Crisis Events’ #1: A Review of the Chaos
Assorted Crisis Events #1 plunges readers into a bizarre time crisis where historical figures collide with modern life amidst escalating, movie-like disasters, questioning our desensitization to chaos. Anchored by the relatable Ashley, the comic blends absurd humor and thought-provoking commentary on modern crises, further enhanced by detailed artwork and impactful sound effects. That said, the pacing sometimes lags due to lengthy internal monologues.
