Mystic Debris Review

It might seem cliche to reflect on the limitless possibilities of the comic book medium. Generations of creators, fans, and critics have celebrated comics' boundless potential. But some creators still find new ways to push the boundaries of the art form in novel directions. Justin Gradin's Mystic Debris, published by Fantagraphics, is a strange, stunning new reminder of how versatile, weird, and exciting comics can be.

Mystic Debris follows Whizbang, a drummer in a heavy metal band whose pregnant girlfriend, Planchette, wants him to give up his rock and roll lifestyle. He decides to settle down after one last tour, but by the time he returns home from weeks of lackluster concerts, Planchette has already given birth to their son Garborator Jelly-Roll Alucard and made plans to follow her favorite rapper on tour. Left alone with the baby and a million questions, Whizbang starts working at Planchette's father's door factory and develops an interest in astral projection, which sends him on a surreal, out-of-body journey.

Whizbang worries about his future and calls his bandmate in Mystic Debris

Gradin builds a world with a distinct internal logic. Between the characters' ridiculous names, absurd jobs, and bizarre decisions, everything about Mystic Debris feels off-kilter and dreamy. By the time floating noses start baby-sitting Garborator, the development feels almost natural. Gradin guides the reader on a trip through Whizbang's dream world with a style and pace that owes as much to Alan Moore's Promethia as it does to Gary Panter's Jimbo: Adventures in Paradise. Each new stage in Whizbang's astral journey presents the character and the reader with new challenges and increasingly surreal situations before crashing down to an even weirder reality. Each scene seems sillier than the last, but Gradin's writing never feels arbitrary.

Gradin's art is as outlandish as his story. Every character design is memorable and funny, and Gradin's page layouts are absolutely stunning. Much of the book utilizes a four-panel grid, but he isn't afraid to break this rhythm with inventive compositions that punctuate important moments. As Whizbang moves through the astral plane, some of Gradin's textures morph to reflect the new environment. In some scenes, Whizbang even transforms from a line drawing to a three-dimensional figure floating in space. From there, the protagonist changes shape several times to reflect each new stage of his adventure and underscore the transitory nature of his surroundings. The lettering in Mystic Debris is just as fluid. While much of the dialogue is presented in a fairly straightforward font, some characters speak only in cursive, and the sound effects are represented with what appears to be Kanji.

Whizbang astral projects in Mystic Debris

Mystic Debris ends fairly abruptly, leaving the audience with a lot to digest and appreciate. It could be argued that the narrative, itself, is fairly simple and that, all things considered, the stakes are pretty low. But Gradin introduces countless intriguing concepts and unique ideas onto each page to make Mystic Debris a one-of-a-kind reading experience that's sure to reward multiple readings. As impressive as this book is, it never takes itself too seriously. Each page is gorgeous but unassuming, leaving plenty of room for humor. Gradin has crafted an unforgettable, energetic graphic novel that's as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.

CBR

Justin Gradin's Mystic Debris is a Nightmarishly Fun Read