Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Unwritten #23Unwritten #23
Vertigo (DC Comics)
Carey & Gross

Every once in a while an issue comes along that ties much of what came before together. Issues that makes the reader say to themselves, "So that's what's been going on all this time?" This is one of those issues. Carey reveals a lot about the long term vision for this series in this issue and I have to admit I really didn't see it coming. I won't spoil the brunt of what he reveals about the source of Tom's power and understanding just how he has been able to slip into stories here and there. It's a very good issue and it certainly seems like Carey has a very interesting direction plotted out for this series.

Tom was initially "stuck" in Moby Dick a couple of issues ago. While he managed to figure a way out of the story where the key was the water and not the ship, he managed to trap himself in the stomach of a whale. However, he wasn't alone as other literary characters, such as Pinocchio and Sinbad, also were in the belly of the beast. The puzzle here is that the characters were trying to figure out a way to get out of whale's mouth and escape. However, for Tom the real dilemma should have been trying to understand how all of these characters, from different stories, managed to become trapped within the same whale.

This series has been about Tom and his father from the beginning. However, sub plots have popped up here and there and for the last several issues the source of Tom's power has been in the forefront. I think this issue really closes the loop on that sub plot and does so in a way that makes the next issue pivotal in the direction of the series. What will Tom do now that he understands what the secret to his power is? Is he correct about his assumptions about it? Does knowing this information put any of his own destiny in his hands or does it just mean he has even less control? The series just got very complicated and very intriguing with this revelation.

Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle ReviewsThe art is exceptional as usual. Despite the fact that the portions of the comic had some finishes applied from another artist didn't detract from the story at all. The splash page of the whale that is a mosaic of other "things" is extremely well done and really hammers home the story twist.

I liked the direction this book has taken since Tom seems to have been trapped in literary scenes but this issue leaps that by a lot. This is one of those comic books that really rewards sticking with the series for a couple of years. I would think that a new reader wouldn't feel the same way but still the raw ideas in the book make the comic enjoyable for anyone. This is a great book.

4.5 out of 5 Geek Goggles