This is an unusual topic for a graphic novel. The spy industry makes millions out of people who take incriminating photos with their hi-tech mobile phones. In the beginning, a young woman named Charlotte is trying to track down a man called Tucker who has an unhealthy obsession with taking photos of any incidents that included violence using his mobile phone. Later on, a young man is coerced into taking photos with his mobile phone in order to help two other men in their determination to find Charlotte who is against the mobile phone porn industry and is trying to stop them. The idea behind this story is to explain the concept of mobile pornography, and how mobile phones are affecting their lives. It's set in a society that has become obsessed with the latest technology, including mobile phone technology.
I found parts of this story confusing, as if the writer was writing with a first-hand knowledge of the mobile phone industry, and as a casual reader, some of the references regarding the industry left me a little lost at times. It feels as if the writer has tried to pack in as much information as he possibly could in this single issue which makes it all a bit hard to fully absorb. The idea that mobiles one day could be used for everything since they're such a portable hand held device is an interesting one. There's an underlying current of fear throughout the story, as a young man is unwittingly drawn into a world he has no idea about. I think that the writer could have made it a bit more clear what was going on with Charlotte, and why exactly the group of teenagers are trying to find her.
The artwork is in black & white with grayscale tones. It's very realistic artwork. The backgrounds are simple, sometimes there are none when the artist wants you to focus on the character or what's going on in the panel. There's a raw kind of energy with the pencils and the inks are done superbly, not too light or heavy but done just right. The more dramatic panels are pulled off well, as you can still follow the action sequences and be entertained by what's happening on each page.
It's a fast-paced thriller story, with lots of action throughout the entire issue. The writer has an extensive background in developing mobile content for several companies including BBC, SkySports, and MTV, so I'd say he knows what he's writing about. Keep in mind that this is merely the first issue of a graphic novel, so you're being given a little taste of what Contraband is all about. There will be three issues published in addition to the graphic novel which comes out February 2008 from Slave Labor Graphics Publishing. |
