Duffy, Damian & Tincher, Dann – Whisp #1

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Whisp #1

Before I start, I have to point out the fact that the contact info for these two (besides their e-mail addresses, which I’ll link to at the end of this) is 907 W. Stoughton, Apt. 103 Urbana, IL 61801. That’s a mere three blocks from my first home in Champaign/Urbana! Ah, hooray for things that are only meaningful to me. It’s good to see that are some talented comics folks (besides Layla Lawlor) in that area. This is a creepy, claustrophobic story about a junkie, surrounded by other junkies with the drug he’s craving, unable to get a fix. The drug, Whisp, gives certain gifted people glimpses of the future, but apparently gets them quickly addicted and helpless. Not much of the big picture is shown in this issue, as it primarily deals with the main character, Curt Blake, dealing with the despair of desperately needing a fix. At first I was slightly annoyed with how tiny and scrunched the panels were, then I slowly realized that it added plenty to the closed-in feel of the story, of this character trapped in the room with the other junkies. The art is solid, the panel spacing is tremendous and original, and the writer really has his shit together. Not sure what else you could ask for, but this one is definitely worth a look. It’s $2, contact the writer or the artist, or just go to the website.