They’re Not Like Us #2

by Eric Stephenson, Simon Gane & Jordie Bellaire

This week’s issue of They’re Not Like Us shows Syd is having some issues adjusting to this house of telepaths she now resides in. Which isn’t surprising since they’re all a bunch of assholes. Sure, they back it up with some flimsy excuses, just to not make them look like total dicks. They hide themselves from the normal people, only to use the powerless basically as toys to abuse. With all of this on top of them, previously alluding to killing Syd’s parents, readers wonder how Syd will react to this new life she has fallen into?

They’re Not Like Us feels like a fresh take on presenting a world similar to our own. The only difference is there are certain people of unlocked various telepathic powers in the world of They’re Not Like Us. Eric Stephenson not only was able to take such a simple idea and make it unique, but he also writes excellent dialog between characters. Most of the dialog is super-powered teenagers spouting off selfish bullshit (like most regular teenagers do) and it’s still fun to read. He also presents the angle of how the world would ostracize them if everyone did find out people like them existed. However the way they go about handling it, seems pretty coarse. In this case, what else would you honestly expect? People with power always seem to resort to abusing those who have none.

Simon Gane can make some fantastic looking artwork. Especially the way he utilizes the cover as part of the story, such a brilliant, yet obvious idea. That seems to be a theme with They’re Not Like Us; obvious ideas that are underutilized. Gane’s panel work makes for such a smooth read to Stephenson’s story. Each panel looks so great that Gane wouldn’t even need to wow readers with stunning full-page pieces. However, he still delivers them like a cherry on a sundae. In fact, this issue had one great page that really stood out: Syd is overwhelmed by the surrounding psychic thoughts, and Gane presents them as gear-shaped thought bubbles. The other thing that stands out in They’re Not Like Us‘ art is the gorgeous colors courtesy of Jordie Bellaire. Even though They’re Not Like Us takes place in the modern-day, this art team gives it an almost dated look in both colors and inking style. Doing this gives They’re Not Like Us a very unique timeless feeling in the art.

They’re Not Like Us is not like anything on shelves right now. At such an early stage of this series it feels unfair to judge the plot or the characters. Yet, in only two issues readers know a lot about these people and are onboard to see where They’re Not Like Us will go. This team of creators work incredibly well together, it reflects off of the pages of They’re Not Like Us. It’s what makes it such an appealing read.