Start Again, Reviewed. Showing the "real" Lives of Superheroes.

As an adult comic fan do you find yourself musing about the "real" lives of superheroes? Well, guess what? The super talent that is Jamie Me has a brilliant NSFW tale exploring this very subject.

Superheroes, they're people. They are often human. So they must have human wants and desires. In the modern culture of celebrity and social media, an individual that really is unique could find navigating through this life harder than most. Would a superhero be as susceptible as everyone else? Start Again is a study of these thoughts and the nature of our species with a romantic leaning as well as some subtle commentary on mental health issues. Created and lettered by Jamie Me with art by Toni Doya, coloured by Sean Callahan and edited by Archie Dait, it’s a very special and unique tale, grounded in a very real feeling and relatable universe.

Well, let’s start with the art. Toni Doya presents some elegant art here. Using very fine ink lines Toni creates a fantastically real feeling, instantly recognisable universe. With character designs that are ideally suited to what is ultimately a very grounded universe. The attention to detail all over this comic is sublime creating a wondrously immersive experience. Toni's art for me also holds a nostalgic look to it that I can’t quite put my finger on. It may be something to do with the combination of fine lines and Sean Callahan's colour palette, but this art, while looking very modern, also holds a comforting quality to it. Sean's colours compliment the art wonderfully, cohering to the grounded feel of its looks. The art, colouring and Jamie's lettering blend with perfect synchronicity to create a very clear experience. The balance of each is weighted in such a way that each somehow compliments the best parts of the other without over dominating. Altogether the looks of this comic create a very recognisable universe while building the ideal foundation for Jamie's story.

Now with all that realistic world-building visually mastered, it’s safe to assume that the story will be just as grounded. Jamie Me really steps up to the plate and knocks this into the stratosphere.

For a story centred around a superhero, it’s the most accessible, relatable story I’ve read in years. The story muses on the day to day lives we all lead. Our obsession with the culture of celebrity, and the unfortunately still rabid internet culture of dismantling an entire human being for, well being human. Jamie adds to this the unique interpretation of the target being a superhero and delves into the individual behind the mask. It’s a story offering proof that no matter who you are, you are still human and by default fallible.

So let’s look at that plot. Start Again is centred around Ajay Verma. We start in the Tiger Club in our very own Leeds. Where our narrator offers to “set the record straight” about Ajay and where it all started to go wrong for him. Ajay goes to the bathroom and straight to the first unlocked cubicle (nice detail in the colour of the lock which adds to the innocence of the moment) and discovers he may have entered the wrong bathroom thanks to the woman he's just interrupted. There follows an interaction, which as someone with social anxiety I found very relatable. That awkward moment where you just blurt out anything in the hope of it helping the situation. Luckily for Ajay, Natalie, as she introduces herself, takes it all in her stride and Ajay recovers the situation. What follows is a scene played out all across the world when two consenting adults move from chemical connection to bumping uglies. Jamie offers here a very relatable moment of intrusive thoughts using it as a catalyst to hint at the larger plot. (Is it me or does the very first panel offer a hint to this also?) Jamie also adds, as I interpreted it, an ingenious twist on how some of us try to cope with those thoughts. A literal escape which serves as an omen for running away from your problems perhaps? Events play out in a very remarkable way nonetheless. The conclusion of this scene serves as the ideal platform for this story to spring from. What follows is an excellent portrayal of falling from grace in the public eye. We get a great insight from the victim's point of view as well as a clever nod to the effects of depression. The narrator is revealed to be Ajay's friend James, who offers good advice for a friend in need. The issue culminates with a twist that definitively sets this story to be not only very human, but something with the potential to offer a fascinating examination of the human condition through a unique lens.

To get involved with Start Again I refer you to Jamie Me’s social media
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JamieMeWrites
Twitter https://twitter.com/JamieMeWrites
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jamiemewrites/ 

Pay particular attention in February 2020 with an opportunity to get all previous Start Again issues and stories.

Review 5+/5