Broken Frontier

Stunning art makes Kirby Genesis worth the price.

Kurt Busiek makes little attempt to catch readers up to speed on the characters, plot, and universe of Kirby Genesis.  In this instance unlike almost any other, however, it is forgivable.  Though the strong characters and their intentions will be unclear to new readers, Kirby Genesis’ true value is its stunning art.

The combined art team of Jack Herbert, Alex Ross, and colorist Vinicius Andrade are responsible for creating a book chock full of complex, action-packed, and dramatic pages.  There is little white to been seen surrounding panels, as almost every millimeter of paper is utilized over the course of the issue.  Time and time again, Herbert and Ross knock the art out of the park, from the initial introduction of the massive and vibrant Progenitors, to their creation of heroic Primal Elements, to bombastic fight scenes.  Andrade’s color work is simply fantastic, with what appears to be every color of the spectrum being worked into panel after panel, page after page.  The color combinations on characters, especially the mythical Progenitors, clash yet simultaneously complement each other; a strange concept that must be seen to comprehend.

Though Kurt Busiek’s complex story remains a mystery, Jack Herbert, Alex Ross, and Vinicius Andrade’s artwork is worth an extensive look on its own.  The eye-popping colors, kinetic scenes, and gorgeous landscapes demand to be read regardless of any previous exposure to Kirby Genesis.