Arcadia #01
Writer: Alex Paknadel
Artist: Eric Scott Pfeifer
When 99% of humankind is wiped out by a pandemic, four billion people are “saved” by being digitized at the brink of death and uploaded into Arcadia, a utopian simulation in the cloud. But when Arcadia begins to rapidly deplete the energy resources upon which the handful of survivors in the real world (a.k.a. “The Meat”) depends, how long will The Meat be able – and willing – to help?
If LOST and The Matrix had a love child that would be Arcadia by Boom! Studios.
Alex Paknadel takes all that is right in pop culture and then creates an amazingly original story. For a first issue I expect a big cliff hanger to make me want to buy issue two. Paknadel goes in the other direction, he gives me an amazing concept with a bigger crisis that compels me to want to finish the story and find out the answers. Every character is damaged in just the right way that you understand them. Now that I’m hooked the pressure is on Paknadel to deliver a complete story. Which should not be difficult because the main Pepper is captivating in that 80s Kurt Russell kind of way.
There is some great symbolism at the beginning of the book with a wolf, but after the first issue anyone can be the wolf.
Eric Scott Pfeiffer is the artist on the book and he is tasked with creating two distinct worlds which he does well. His style lends toward an Æon Flux, Heavy Metal vibe. The opening sequence is very strong visually, a cold Alaskan snowy night with grit and action. The combination of blues, purples, and red gets your heart pumping. It will be interesting to see what color choices Pfeiffer uses going forward in the series.
Arcadia #01 is a must read because Paknadel is trying to understand humanity when most of humanity is gone, but they aren’t? The concept sucks you in, you must know more.
