Save Yourself #1 is a new queer fantasy comic by Bones Leopard with art by Kelly and Nichole Matthews and letters by Jim Campbell, published by BOOM! Studios’ imprint BOOM! Box. Gigi hasn’t been getting out of the house much since her brother died, but as her other brother tricks her into going out for once, she gets caught up in the affairs of the Cosmic Federation and the arms of a super hot intergalactic agent.
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No, I could not explain what is happening in this comic, and no, I do not care. It’s a big ol’ comic filled with queer characters, tall, buff hotties, and some sort of intergalactic war of sorts. Gigi is a compelling character so because as she goes through the likely strangest day of her life, she’s so quick to take it all in stride and help Mia, the agent who she helped save and who saved her in return: by smooching beneath a collapsing building so Mia could turn back into a dragon. Again, no clue what’s going on here in Save Yourself #1, but I don’t even care. It’s just absolutely compelling.
Beyond the dramatic flairs, it’s clear that there are two deeper layers to what is going on here: first, Gigi and her brother Shawn are mourning their other brother’s death, and it’s affected them both pretty differently. Second, there is some grand conspiracy going down that has humanity turned around about who the good guys are and who the bad guys are among the aliens in their midst. Both aspects have me interesting in finding out what is actually going on in the series’ plot just as much as the characters do.
The art in Save Yourself #1 is very bright and very round and soft, mostly. The comic is supersaturated in pinks and oranges, and purples. Normally, I love brightly colored comics, but here, it almost does feel like too much. I hope that future issues in additional locales will adopt some contrasting or diverse color palettes. The art style is definitely befitting the comic’s overall style, though. Everything is smooth and round. However, the one perhaps jarring component is just how buff Mia is, and as such, less round and soft compared to everyone and everything else. It makes Mia feel like they don’t quite belong. Maybe that’s intentional and will match thematically with their being extraterrestrial, though.
I also appreciate the naturalness with which the dialogue integrates several characters’ pronouns. Sometimes it can feel like awkward exposition, but overall, these instances felt pretty natural. The lettering itself is as sufficient as always from BOOM! Studio’s staple letterer.
Save Yourself #1 may not be completely clear about what it’s about yet, but it’s certainly clear about what kind of comic it will be, and I’m very much here for it. This highly chaotic first issue has me hooked on the characters as well as what seems to lie beneath the surface.
Save Yourself #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.
Save Yourself #1
TL;DR
Save Yourself #1 may not be completely clear about what it’s about yet, but it’s certainly clear about what kind of comic it will be, and I’m very much here for it. This highly chaotic first issue has me hooked on the characters as well as what seems to lie beneath the surface.
