REVIEW: ‘Census,’ Issue #1

Census #1 is written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman, illustrated & colored by Sebastian Piriz, and lettered by Bernando Brice. It’s published under the ComiXology Originals banner. Liam Malone is in his 20’s and like most millennials, he’s searching for steady employment. Thankfully, he appears to find it when he’s hired by the Census Bureau. At first, Liam thinks the job is fairly easy—how hard could counting people be? But he soon learns that he signed up for the Otherworld Census Bureau. Meaning he’ll have to count all the ghosts, goblins, and ghouls that live in New York.

Bernandin and Freeman are writers that excel at flipping genres on their heads. But they also use genre to explore some profound notions of human nature—especially Bernardin, whose Adora and The Distance remains one of the most moving comics I’ve read in a long time. This continues with Census, which explores the struggles the millennial generation has to work through. It’s tough to make a living, even if you go through all the “right steps” like going to college. Liam straight up tells the head of the Census Office that he needs a job for money, and immediately tries to quit when he learns of the true nature of his new job. Honestly, I can relate, apart from the supernatural angle.

But what really makes the book a standout is the fourth wall breaks. Every so often, Liam will turn and address the audience about his current situation, ending it with a wry joke. While breaking the fourth wall isn’t an entirely new practice, Bernardin and Freeman manage to do it in a way that doesn’t feel overbearing or smug. And once again, it’s relatable: Liam’s first assignment brings him into contact with a trio of succubi, who want to sacrifice him for a ritual. Given all the ways pop culture has portrayed succubi, it’s extremely hilarious that Liam’s experience with them turns out to be less than pleasurable.

Of course, it helps to have a great artist on your team and that’s where Piriz comes in. His animated, vibrant style is a perfect fit for the odd and occasionally disturbing events that take place within this comic. Take Liam’s meeting with the aforementioned succubus. At first, they look like the stereotype of every guy’s dream: a cute blonde, brunette, and redhead. But when their true natures are revealed, they become, well, monstrous. Horns jut out of their foreheads, their skin starts to decay, and their eyes are glowing red lights in sunken pits of darkness. Even Brice’s lettering changes with them, shifting from something that’s more normal to jagged and horrific. Piriz delivered some great work on the mecha comic We Ride Titans, and this book is even more proof that he’s one of the most underrated yet talented artists in the business.

Census #1 infuses supernatural elements into its workplace comedy setup, resulting in a wild, weird look at the millennial struggle. Though attention may be on big-budget streaming shows when it comes to the fantasy genre, Census proves that the comic genre holds stories that are just as great as The Rings of Power or House of the Dragon.

Census #1 is available to read now under ComiXology Unlimited.