The 12 Days of Comics: 2010 - Day 7
"Echo" by Terry Moore (Abstract Studios, Self-Published)
Demographic: Relationship-Driven Pseudo-Scientist
Selected by: Ryan Claytor
Subsequent Interview by: Justin Giampaoli
Ryan: Not one to rest on his “Strangers in Paradise” laurels, comics artist and self-publishing icon, Terry Moore, is at it again with his next series, “Echo.” Known for his realistic portrayal of female lead characters, Moore continues this theme in “Echo” with a government-funded scientific experiment-gone-wrong as the driving narrative force.
“Echo” is another one of the few titles on my monthly pull list (I think I might be down to about 3 now). Each installment delivers another well-plotted, well-paced, and well-delivered issue that is chock full of accomplished character renderings. Moore certainly has a knack for character development, allowing nearly every player to grow into a wholly-realized person. His sharp and perceptive attention to depicted emotions comes through as one of the many highlights of the series. In addition to that, the pseudo-science aspect of the mysterious “Phi Project” is well-integrated into the cast of characters and creates some enjoyable, dramatic, and high-pressure scenarios for the different people involved to bounce off of and react to.
Currently, “Echo” is on issue #26, with an announced end at issue #30. You can find single issues if you want to test out the story for a small price, but Moore, a savvy self-publisher, is quick to collect his single issues into trade paperbacks, each one compiling 5 issues into a single book. I would highly recommend starting your test subject on the first trade; I have a feeling the results will be positive.
Justin: What’s the opposite of a veto? You will get absolutely no argument from me regarding the inclusion of Terry Moore’s “Echo.” You’ve got all of the basics covered, Ryan; it’s one of the best books coming out today. What I *don’t* like is when people just casually dismiss this as a “female superhero” book, because it’s really not. The way I pitch “Echo” is that it combines the strong interpersonal dynamics of “Strangers in Paradise” with the type of sci-fi backbone and atomic paranoia (gamma rays, radioactive spiders, and genetic mutations) that fueled the Marvel Silver Age. It’s a brilliant mash-up of those tropes. Moore is an absolute craftsman and it would warm my heart if he got into the teaching end of comics some day. As for purchasing options, I have to believe that, as he’s done with “SiP,” he’ll offer the entire series collected in an omnibus format at some point in the future.
Ryan: I can only assume as much. If I were to guess, we’ll probably see something akin to an “Echo” Omnibus hit the shelves around Comic-Con 2011. He usually releases something substantial for the big show.
Demographic: Relationship-Driven Pseudo-Scientist
Selected by: Ryan Claytor
Subsequent Interview by: Justin Giampaoli
Ryan: Not one to rest on his “Strangers in Paradise” laurels, comics artist and self-publishing icon, Terry Moore, is at it again with his next series, “Echo.” Known for his realistic portrayal of female lead characters, Moore continues this theme in “Echo” with a government-funded scientific experiment-gone-wrong as the driving narrative force.
“Echo” is another one of the few titles on my monthly pull list (I think I might be down to about 3 now). Each installment delivers another well-plotted, well-paced, and well-delivered issue that is chock full of accomplished character renderings. Moore certainly has a knack for character development, allowing nearly every player to grow into a wholly-realized person. His sharp and perceptive attention to depicted emotions comes through as one of the many highlights of the series. In addition to that, the pseudo-science aspect of the mysterious “Phi Project” is well-integrated into the cast of characters and creates some enjoyable, dramatic, and high-pressure scenarios for the different people involved to bounce off of and react to.
Currently, “Echo” is on issue #26, with an announced end at issue #30. You can find single issues if you want to test out the story for a small price, but Moore, a savvy self-publisher, is quick to collect his single issues into trade paperbacks, each one compiling 5 issues into a single book. I would highly recommend starting your test subject on the first trade; I have a feeling the results will be positive.
Justin: What’s the opposite of a veto? You will get absolutely no argument from me regarding the inclusion of Terry Moore’s “Echo.” You’ve got all of the basics covered, Ryan; it’s one of the best books coming out today. What I *don’t* like is when people just casually dismiss this as a “female superhero” book, because it’s really not. The way I pitch “Echo” is that it combines the strong interpersonal dynamics of “Strangers in Paradise” with the type of sci-fi backbone and atomic paranoia (gamma rays, radioactive spiders, and genetic mutations) that fueled the Marvel Silver Age. It’s a brilliant mash-up of those tropes. Moore is an absolute craftsman and it would warm my heart if he got into the teaching end of comics some day. As for purchasing options, I have to believe that, as he’s done with “SiP,” he’ll offer the entire series collected in an omnibus format at some point in the future.
Ryan: I can only assume as much. If I were to guess, we’ll probably see something akin to an “Echo” Omnibus hit the shelves around Comic-Con 2011. He usually releases something substantial for the big show.
posted by Justin Giampaoli @ 7:30 AM
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