REVIEW: ‘King of Nowhere,’ Issue #1

King of Nowhere #1 is published by BOOM! Studios, written by W. Maxwell Prince,  with illustrations by Tyler Jenkins, coloring by Hilary Jenkins, with lettering by AndWorld Design. In the opening issue, we find Denis waking from his drunken stupor on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. While coming to and getting his bearings, Denis is talking to himself asking why he keeps doing this, letting the readers know that getting passed out drunk is a frequent occurrence. He finds a road and begins to walk until he sees a man with deer-like features driving by. Denis continues walking until he enters the town of Nowhere, where many of its citizens were part animal or look just look bizarre.

I enjoyed the overall plot and mystery, King of Nowhere has going for it. As Denis navigates this town, he questions whether he’s hallucinating or not, leaving readers to ask the same. Jenkins’ art of the different characters and his art, in general, is a neat mess. This is something I have not experienced before but because of the uniqueness, I was drawn deeper in. Jenkin’s coloring enhanced Jenkin’s illustrations with vibrant colors and the style mirroring that of watercolors. Altogether, it seemed to fit the theme of Denis been in a weird, mysterious, and possibly in a dream-like state.

Given this is the first issue of King of Nowhere, you don’t really get invested in any characters aside from Denis. Sure, the characters look different and weird but they’re there to move the story along, seeing what kind of mess Denis gets into. We know he’s a drunk, however, he does have a heart and cannot sit idly by while someone is in trouble. 

The story is straightforward and easy to follow. Lettering is legible, with speech bubbles and letterboxes appropriately spaced out, so you’re never confused about what’s going on and who said what. This issue does not rush itself and the pacing is perfect. Prince wants readers to stay latched onto Denis and keep questioning the trouble he constantly finds himself in, as things escalate every turn for our main character. Reading this comic I got the feel of Alice in Wonderland and Bill Willingham’s Fable. 

While I understand this is the first issue and not everything needs to or should be revealed, I wish there was a bit more meat to sink my teeth into. The characters were a bit rushed in meeting Denis, not giving me a chance to claim who my favorite character would be early on. We don’t get a sense of how big Nowhere is and what makes it stands out aside from its weird citizens.

King of Nowhere is an interesting comic that takes you down a rabbit hole of mystery and quirkiness. The entire issue you will be questioning what’s real and by issue’s end really asking yourself what’s going on. Jenkin’s and Jenkin’s illustration and coloring are pleasing to the eye, making you wonder what other characters will look like in the following issues to come. King of Nowhere is definitely a comic to put on your radar. 

King of Nowhere #1 is available now in comic book stores and online through BOOM! Studio’s webstore. 

Derrick Pittman