Review: The Ghost System #1
Written and created by David Wilburn, The Ghost System Chapter One: Blue is brought to life by the art of Rafael Romeo Magat. Set in Manchester’s not-too-distant future, it quickly sets about establishing a story that centres on Soro, a hacker-for-hire whose job is to fix the holes in his clients’ networks. However, when crime forces its way into his technological bubble, Soro’s life is turned upside down by the onset of an ability to perceive the digital currents that fill the society of the future.
The Ghost System’s strongest narrative element is its worldbuilding. It deftly sets about establishing a world that feels every bit as organic as it does technological, with its dystopian society seemingly unaware of the issues plaguing their existence. In this, The Ghost System is able to conjure an atmosphere that strikes a naturally relatable chord, helping its high-concept premise come to life in a way that’s accessible to the reader.
Rafael Romeo Magat’s art is gorgeously crafted, evoking both the futuristic and the more mundane elements of its world in each and every panel. The artwork isn’t so striking that it steals the show – it's subtle and richly builds its world through visuals without overshadowing the narrative elements of The Ghost System. Magat’s ability to bring the story to life through his engaging art is commendable, as is the excellent work by colourist Linda Scott Cambell.
The use of colour is another key component in The Ghost System‘s charm, as it brings the Manchester of the future to life with two distinct personalities: the light and the dark. The light uses vibrant colours, capturing the day-to-day wonder of the story’s futuristic setting, whereas the dark highlights the seedier aspects of The Ghost System’s society.
Between those two visual elements lies Soro’s abilities. They bridge the gap between light and dark, helping to set the story’s protagonist apart from every other aspect of his world. Conceptually, it works perfectly for the nature of Soro’s story, making him seem particularly compelling.
There’s also exceptional work on the lettering from Tim West, particularly where different styles are concerned. The use of radio to set up new scenes is marked by boxes of a distinct style, once again capturing the futuristic nature of The Ghost System in a visual sense.
Finally, The Ghost System’s cover by artist Clark Bint perfectly complements both Wilburn’s story and Magat’s artwork. Bint has captured the essence of the narrative exactly, with the grimier aspects of future-Manchester on display in the details, while the sleeker elements of the comic’s premise are plain to see.
The Ghost System is a fascinating and well-realized sci-fi story with a lot of promise. Issue 1 sets up a world that feels ready to revisit, with a story that is likely to keep readers waiting for the next instalment. There’s very little not to enjoy about The Ghost System, particularly as it appears to have put each member of its creative team to perfect use.
The Ghost System Issue 1 is available as part of the Kickstarter campaign that is currently underway for #2, which can be found here.
Rating: 4/5
