A tour-de-force of over-the-top storytelling. An instant classic, DEMONS has the odd quality of being completely off-the-wall insane, and yet totally making airtight sense in terms of the rules it lays out for the reality in which the events depicted take place.
A 21st century schizoid take on Alfred Bester's bonkers sci-fi masterpiece The Stars My Destination (aka Tiger! Tiger!), Jason Shiga's DEMON is technically (and commercially) split into four volumes, but the story of protagonist Jimmy Yee's life and/or lives (which is already giving away too much) progresses from one part to the next in a propulsive, unbroken narrative of revelation, destruction and bloodshed. All this, while simultaneously engaging in some serious philosophical discussions relating to all the Big Questions, like, why do we exist? and, what is the true nature of the mind/body divide? and, what gives life meaning?
I had the good fortune of having this series recommended to me by someone whose opinion in such matters I trust implicitly--comics legend Stephen Bissette, of Swamp Thing and Taboo infamy--so I purchased the first volume despite the artwork not being my cup of tea, and despite not knowing a single goddamn thing about the story. I was maybe ten pages in before I knew that I'd be picking up the other three volumes on my next visit to my favorite (and by far Toronto's finest) comics shop, The Beguiling.
I honestly believe that going into DEMON fresh is the best way to experience it, because it begins as a puzzle box and then, just when you think it might be getting too complex or bizarre or impossible to understand, it all starts making (a ridiculous kind of) sense. This ongoing roll-out of DEMON's many revelations is intensely satisfying on a number of levels. Also, remember that if you purchase it via my Amazon affiliate link, I get a few shekels in my begging cup!
Finally, for those of you who feel the need to know a bit more about the book(s) before plunking down your hard-earned dollars--pussies, in other words--this here is a decent but spoiler-filled rundown of Jimmy's crazed, debauched saga.
Enjoy! I know I sure did!
No comments:
Post a Comment