Written by: Jacob Semahn
Art by: Jorge Corona
Publisher: Image
With Goners, Jacob Semahn and Jorge Corona are accomplishing a couple really awesome things. First, we’re only two issues in and there is already a lot of effective world building going on. It takes a lot of skill to build a completely original universe without relying on info dumps that take the focus away from the actual narrative. I already feel like I know the world and characters of Goners. Second, the idea that this series is going to be exploring the end of this family dynasty is incredibly intriguing. It’s not a new idea to approach a concept like this from that there’s a dynasty element, but to specifically plan their story as an ending is a bold move. I’m really looking forward to how this will play out, but I’m also worried about the fate that awaits these characters that are so quickly endearing themselves to me.
In this issue we have the Latimer children, Francis, and Detective McCarthy fighting their way out of the police station, which is under siege by the supernatural forces. This is interspersed with glimpses of other branches of the Latimer family being attacked themselves and flashbacks that are beginning to fill in some of the Latimer history.
The tone that Semahn is taking with this book definitely makes it stand out from a lot of the other supernatural books that are out there. There’s a tendency to go dark and dour, but Goners is anything but. Even with all the death and horror that’s going on in this issue, there’s still a certain levity to things. This isn’t surprising considering the mentions of Goonies and Monster Squad as influences. Zoe and Josiah just lost their parents in the first issue, it would have made for a totally legitimate narrative to focus on their loss, but Semahn is confidently depending on the writing of his characters to carry the weight of building ready sympathy, and it’s working. The idea that this immediate onsluaght, following the death of their parents, has created a situation in which they can’t take time to grieve is hits home in a compelling way.
Corona’s art is perfectly in line with the original approach that’s present in the writing. There’s a very distinct anime vibe to the book, with large eyed characters and very exaggerated movement. There’s a lot of action and blood and guts in this issue and Corona brings an incredible amount of dynamics to it all. The art was already good in issue one, but the addition of Steve Wands on inking duties, in combination with the colors by Gabriel Cassata, really makes this issue pop, and I’m looking forward to that continuing from here.
Goners could have very easily gotten lost amidst the supernatural genre, but the animated and vibrant combination of art and writing really has the book standing out. The creative team is crafting an interesting world, and I’m on board to see them explore it to whatever ending they have coming.
