Written by: Chris Lewis
Art by: Bruno Oliveira
Publisher: IDW
For a first issue, Drones doesn’t really hit the mark. There is a lot happening in quick succession and I feel that this is what lets Drones down. The story flits between scenes too drastically and it gives you no time to really soak it in, meaning we never get a chance to learn much about the two main characters, Lani and Captain Stinger, which for me is a huge part of any story.
Drones follows two drone operators as they enjoy (if you can call it that) a trip to the world’s first terrorism-themed hotel, located on the Las Vegas Strip. It took me some time to grasp what was going on and after a couple of read-throughs, it became a little clearer; however, the way in which it tries to explain and intercept these ideas into your psyche feels all too contrived to really make an impact. Don’t get me wrong, the initial concept is fantastic and in today’s day and age, it is a great reflection on how the act of terror is central focus on our lives. Every day, terrorism takes over the news in some capacity—whether on the TV or on social media. Terrorism is all around us and for some, it provides a great source of entertainment. Chris Lewis has found a way to use this social commentary in his writing pretty well and as the series continues, I hope his story finds a way to breathe a little easier.
As for the dialogue, there are some moments where I cringed a little; there is a line about erectile dysfunction and Lani’s retort is “You don’t have any problems getting this thing up though,” as she holds up the drone in her hand. Yes, maybe these kinds of quips exist in our everyday life and maybe it is a petty concern to have but if humour is going to be part of something, it shouldn’t feel strained or misplaced. There are other moments involving the leader of a terrorist outfit called The Swords of Doom that also try to resort to humour, also seeming to fall a little flat. I don’t want to shoot the whole of the writing down as not all of it is a struggle to read but for the most part, I don’t feel particularly connected to its execution.
The art direction for the most part is smart. There is some great lighting of the panels and the Vegas Strip really comes alive on the pages. The effects used seem to come from real flares of experienced minds and for me, this is where Drones #1 gives me the most enjoyment. There is real detail here, especially when we see the faces of the characters take centre stages of the panels. I have no qualms about the nature of its art direction because it reminds me of some of David Gibbons’ old work.
I don’t think I’ll be coming back to Drones. I applaud its surrealist approach and at no point was it repelling me from reading it. I just couldn’t get on with its story or its dialogue; maybe it’s just not adhering to my tastes. In no way is it a poor attempt at a comic; all involved are talented individuals with severely creative minds but once I’d finished, I was left with a miasma of confusion and ill feeling. Drones #1 has a nice idea, but it just wasn’t for me.
