Layers of uncertainty and surrealness with a twist.
Creative Staff:
Story: Jeff Lemire
Art: Andrea Sorrentino
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Steve Wands
What They Say:
“THE BLACK BARN,” Conclusion Father Fred enters The Black Barn on a daring rescue attempt but nothing can prepare him for the horrors within. Meanwhile, Norton and Angie delve deeper into Norton’s past and zero in on the secrets of the Barn.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Gideon Falls comes to the conclusion of the first arc and, admittedly, makes for a good jumping off point for me. That’s only temporary though as the series continues on in October but I’ve realized over the course of it that this is a work that will read much better for me in trade. Jeff Lemire has a distinct plan here and it’s one I want to engage in but the monthly side just isn’t cutting it as I’d rather pick up a book a year and just dig deep into it. Andrea Sorrentino and Dave Stewart have a really strong installment this time around now that we’re actually in the barn and Sorrentino absolutely nails it with the visuals in making it feel like it should drive you nuts if you were really in it. There’s such great detail and layout to it all that it’s very much the kind of book that’s worth the re-read.
The bulk of the book focuses on what Fred and Clara are going through though it’s more about Fred. The journey into the Black Barn is properly surreal in an almost 60’s kind of visual way with how it’s presented. The two-page spreads are striking and richly detailed as the sense of motion carries us forward all while wrapping around to smaller moments to enhance it. Father Fred’s journey in here does eventually bring him to Clara and to face off against Reddy, who is furious with him being in here and making the choice that he did when it came to possibly learning the answers to everything. But it’s a surreal kind of rush as we get glimpses of Fred’s earlier life, the choices he made that put him where he is now, and the important choice to save Clara – even if she forgets everything that happened in the Black Barn.
There’s a lot to explore with what we learn of Fred here but I’m wary of reading too much into it because things often aren’t what they seem. That leads me into the other part of the book with Xu and Norton now that she’s fully on board with everything. Having them trying to find out where he was found leads them to a former warehouse district that’s become very modern and alive with shops and cafes but there’s still an empty lot in the middle that doesn’t make any sense. The two are fully invested in getting this figured out now but it ends with what is a twist? I think? I had thought they were all in New York from the start but revealing that this is Gideon Falls with a population of 4.6 million? That has me ready to go back to the beginning to try and figure it all out.
In Summary:
I like Gideon Falls, plain and simple. But it’s not a book that, for me, works on a monthly basis. I’m excited to see more of the journey ahead, the past that’s still to be explored, and more of the nature of the reality of the Black Barn. Lemire and Sorrentino delivered a slow and steady but strong book with a lot to like and the pacing and buildup lead to this fantastic kind of surreal installment that has you ready to go back to the beginning to examine it in a new light. So, while I won’t do the singles going forward, I look forward to catching the next arc in trade form in about a year and re-reading the entire run at once. Definitely worth checking out.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 17+
Released By: Image Comics via ComiXology
Release Date: August 15th, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
