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If theres one thing I can say about Fade From Blue, its "Damn, this
comic is cheap!" Issue 1, which was likely handed to me by someone at
Comic Con because it doesnt look like something Id buy, was $1. Issue
2 is advertised as being $1.25. This is for a full-length, well drawn black
and white comic with a full-color cover and lots of dialog. You can tell
that a lot of work has been put into it, and it makes you wonder how they
can sell it so cheaply with just a few ads in the back.
Id say the inside cover sums it up pretty nicely:
"All you need to know . . . Meet Iya, Marit, Elisa and Christa, four half-sisters that share more than
just one missing polygamist father. Drawn together by the sudden,
unexpected deaths of their mothers, the four form their own family in
order to survive. Years later, the truth of what really happened in the past
threatens to unravel the existence theyve created for themselves in the
present. And expose the lies theyve been keeping from each other since
that fateful day."
My one major complaint is that the first issue gives no clue as to how
these four sisters found each other... Supposedly their father had 4 wives
(each with just 1 daughter) in four different cities, and had each wife
convinced that he was faithful to her! I guess were to assume that when
the women all suddenly died, the girls somehow found out about each
other while looking for the truth about their missing father? Im not sure.
The four sisters are grown women now, each very different from each
other (and each slightly stereotypical), sharing an apartment in New York
City (I shudder to think of what their rent must be!). It sounds more like
the premise of a sitcom than a comic book, really. The story is fairly
serious, though (with comic moments), and is well-written, even if its not
anywhere near my cup of tea.
The sisters are Iya, the attractive blonde who hates being thought of as a
sex object and a "dumb blonde". Marit, the cop who is so butch that she
looks like a man in nearly every picture. Tough, angry girl basically. Elisa
is the athletic, upbeat, musically talented sister. Christa is my favorite
character in this comic, the crude and sarcastic sister who writes columns
for some womens magazine. The first issue unfolds almost perfectly as
Christa is on the phone with someone from the magazine, talking about
article ideas. Each of her ideas is based upon her observations from
watching her sisters, so as she discusses them, we see her dialog over a
scene with the other sister, neatly introducing all of the characters, as
well as giving us the idea that Christa clearly lives vicariously through
her sisters.
As an added bonus, at the end of this comic theyve included one of
Christas columns, entitled "The 4 things about your pad that make him
panic" with handy tips on what you should and shouldnt leave out
when bringing a guy over to your place. The column is somewhat
humorous, and the picture of the end with smoke pouring out of her
monitor (just as the column was finished, no doubt) reminds me of the
disasters we writers always face when working against a deadline. Next
issue promises to tell us "The 4 ways not to wig him out the morning
after."
All in all, if youre looking for a pleasant, well-drawn cross between a TV
show and a comic (with strong female characters, no less) for a bargain
price, Fade From Blue is the comic for you. Those looking for a more
action or fantasy oriented comic should check elsewhere.
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