Review: Trapped by Twisted Comics
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to navigate the high-stakes world of poker? In Neil Gibson's latest graphic novel, "Trapped," we follow Joe, a down-on-his-luck poker player/commentator, as he dives headfirst into a whirlwind of gambling, crime, and unexpected alliances. Will Joe manage to outwit the shady characters he encounters, or will he find himself ensnared in a web of deceit and danger?
Trapped is a poker-comedy love letter to the gambling/heist genre. Trapped is loosely based on Joe Stapleton's (mis)adventures as a soon-to-be-has-been poker commentator along with his vivid imagination. A little mix of reality and fiction. The story follows Joe, who talks us through playing poker and emphasizes how sometimes it really does just come down to luck (bad luck, that is). Soon, Joe gets mixed up with some shady people, and you start to see how this will escalate badly.
Beginning with the art, one is immediately struck by the delightful style and colour palette. The artwork features stunning scenes that shine in the bright lights of Vegas, as well as in the more sombre, shadowy moments of conflict. There are some moments of almost cartoon-style faces when it comes to expressions of surprise and anger, which I quite enjoyed, but there are also some beautifully drawn faces showing anguish and happiness.
Near the beginning, you get to see Joe's internal demon saying what he wants with some artistic flair that contrasts with what's actually happening in with Joe. It's the kind of thing I wish we saw more of later on as it looked great and added some good humour visually.
This, coupled with the beautiful lettering, creates an immersive reading experience and adds a unique quality.
For the story, it's a little slow to start with, but once you start smelling that things aren't going to go well, things really start picking up. Joe is a really interesting character with a load of bad jokes that everyone loves, as he oozes charisma despite his other evident flaws.
As we follow Joe from poker game to poker game, we are introduced to an entertaining cast of characters who are well-detailed and likewise have both good and bad traits. This is the world through Joe's eyes, though, which adds something extra to the characters. Are they sus, or is that just because he's started to get a little nervous because of someone else? It adds a nice new dimension to the story.
It's how Joe reacts to every situation where things really stand out. Some people would cave, and thanks to some internal dialogue, we know Joe wants to. But he's a poker player, and sometimes you have to bluff your way out of things, even if that's bluffing with just your emotions. The story's climax unfolds rapidly with a pace that was skillfully set up in the preceding pages.
Trapped promises to be a thrilling, enthralling read as it mixes humour, crime, entertainment and friendships along with some beautiful artwork that makes this one to keep an eye out for. The upcoming Kickstarter campaign, where you can support and get your hands on this, is coming soon. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the world of poker, crime, and unexpected alliances with Joe and his remarkable journey.
Rating: 5/5
