Feathers #1

By Jorge Corona

Feathers #1 comes out this week from Boom, and it’s a book suitable for all ages. Being an all-ages book doesn’t make this a terrible read or less fun, but you should go in with a different set of expectations from say, a Batman comic.

Feathers is a story of two people who have been held back for their entire life in one way or another. Poe, a young man born with feathers bonded to his skin, and Bianca, a little girl who comes from a wealthy home. Jorge Corona does a nice job of showing the parallel with these two characters and how even though they are from different social classes, they are very similar. The relationship between Poe and his Pop, an elderly man named Gabriel who finds Poe, is the heart of the issue. Corona shows the concern Gabriel has for Poe a few times in this introductory issue and it’s very heartwarming. There are some flaws in this book though, and one seems to be that some children are shown in the beginning of the issue and as we flash forward 11 years, they look exactly the same. There could be something mystical going on here, but to the casual reader, it comes off as odd. Another strike against the issue is the annoying narration going on in the first few pages. It’s very hard to understand and the issue would work better without it.

The art is also tackled by Jorge Corona, who does a very solid job of making this feel almost like a manga comic. The bright colors in the day panels really make this issue more enjoyable. The colors allow the book to be light and fluffy and an overall fun read. Corona also shines on his backgrounds as his buildings are very distinct looking and cool in the backdrop of the issue. The art is very strong in this introductory issue and Jorge Corona should get double props for doing double duty.

Feathers is a fun read if you’re in the mood for something different. It’s a book you could read to your kids, but also might enjoy yourself. While there were some odd things going on during the writing portion, the art is a breath of fresh air. Jorge Corona did a good job in this first issue and wrote an interesting story that could be enjoyed by all.