First Issue Review: BARRIER #1

There was one comic that littered the tables of comic shops everywhere on Free Comic Book Day which was sure to catch everyone’s eye: BARRIER, a new miniseries written by Brian K. Vaughn. Well, sort of new; BARRIER was originally a digital series that is now being released in print for the first time. This is the 1st issue in what will be a 5 issue-long series, with #2 scheduled to be available in stores on May 9th, according to the post on the Image Comics website. After reading #1, there were a few things that stood out to me, so here are my thoughts:

BARRIER made a slew of unconventional structural choices that I’m sure will continue in the subsequent issues. First, it’s landscape oriented. That wouldn’t make much of a difference in its original digital format I would imagine, but to read it in print was just a bit uncomfortable. If you haven’t read it yet, I would suggest reading it at a table or on another flat surface, not in the usual upside-down-in-the-bed position that is my usual go to. After you get used to it, however, it fits right in with this unconventional little comic.

There are two main characters, Liddy and Oscar. Each of these characters gets their own intro page, which I thought worked really well with the Old Western theme of the comic. This also works organizationally; since the perspective shifts back in forth between both of their perspectives, this makes it clear who your main characters are, where they are, and sets a precedent of distinction in preparation for the perspective shifts, which makes the shifts clearer and easier to follow moving forward.

The dialogue in Oscar’s sections are in Spanish. I was surprised at that decision, and pleased that it was kept up consistently throughout the issue. I can read Spanish fairly well, so it wasn’t much of a hurdle for me, but if you can’t I would suggest reading this issue with Google Translate handy. There are some interesting, if not pertinent (won’t really be sure until the next issue) plot points in those sections so, in my opinion, they’re worth the extra time. But beyond the surface, incorporating entire untranslated Spanish sections has definite political significance, especially in a story that’s already rather politically charged and deals explicitly with the immigrant experience.

Near the end of the issue we see both of the characters on their individual journeys moving closer and closer to their meeting point in the story. There are about 6 pages that, in their entirety, consist of dialogue-less panels of Liddy on the left, Oscar on the right, and a middle panel that stylistically splits the two panels. I did really enjoy this choice, and honestly, this is the point where the comic picked up the most steam for me. There’s also a sweet shot in there of Liddy watching porn and drinking Jack Daniels which added the perfect little dash of je ne sais quoi to the sequence.

The coloring throughout the issue is thoughtful and particularly emotive. This is best exemplified during the stark coloring shift that takes place around the turning point of the story, which certainly adds to the experience of the twist, as well as retroactively to the issue as a whole.

All in all, this first issue was certainly enough to get my attention. I mean, it’s Brian K. Vaughan so was there ever really any question?

Title: Barrier

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan

Artist: Marcos Martin

Colorist: Munsta Vicente