Broken Frontier

It’s so sad that The Guild miniseries has come to an end.  This third and final issue is the best so far, with smart writing and equally spectacular art and storytelling.  It has been fun seeing Felicia Day’s character Cyd mature and evolve.  This series has really helped readers and viewers understand and empathize with Cyd, as the webshow mainly focuses on her reactions to the insanity going on around her.  It’s an invaluable read for any fan of the show. 

As I said earlier, it’s such a shame that this is the last issue, as Day really hits her comedic stride.  The timing and set-up of each of her jokes hits right on.  The story flows really smoothly from start to finish, which is a bit of a blessing and a curse, because it makes this amazing story feel a lot shorter than it is.  While it’s not a suspenseful page-turner, the natural way the story moves makes the read as natural as breathing, or laughing.  This issue is full of The Guild’s trademark witty banter and clever plot development.  We finally get to see the rocky origin of the guild we’ve come to know and love from the webshow and, I must say, Day delivers an origin worthy of this nutty group. 

As always, Jim Rugg’s drawings bring a dynamic energy to the story, and make the characters come to life.  Up until now, the majority of the story was spent in the real world.  Rugg’s lines for these scenes were darker and very rigid.  In this issue, much more of the story was spent in the world of “the game," and thus we’re able to more fully appreciate the differences in the art styles.  Everything in the game is much softer and, obviously, more fantastical in nature.  There are tigers and bears, and the anatomical proportions are much more exaggerated, like they would be in a fantasy game. 

Colorist Dan Jackson’s contribution to the overall reading experience is also incredible.  The softer and brighter colors in the game world make it feel like a happier place, and there’s no denying the bland and realistic quality of Cyd’s life.  I admire Jackson’s ability to create this atmosphere while still using vibrant colors, thus maintaining an interesting composition on the page.  With the two worlds divided so definitely, the reader is free to focus entirely on the dialogue and the art without having to focus on the story.  There’s no doubt that Jackson’s work was essential in building the natural flow of the comic.

Again, The Guild story arc was a fantastic read.  Felicia Day demonstrates incredible writing ability and great creative chemistry with artist Jim Rugg.  This particular story arc was short and sweet, and left readers wanting more.  I hope to see something new from this creative team soon!