When you review serialised comics as rarely as I do one immediate and obvious observation you make is that comics commentary on a first issue is like critiquing the first chapter of a novel in isolation. You are looking at entirely different criteria as to whether or not it succeeds; not evaluating a story as much as ascertaining whether or not a premise does enough to set up characters and themes, and hook the reader enough to have them eagerly anticipating chapter 2. That’s the situation I found myself in with Phoebe Hedges and Lizzie Styles’ Total Recall of the Heart #1, currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter here.
Writer (and letterer) Hedges throws us directly into the mystery by ensuring that we too are as disoriented as protagonist Skunk when the story begins. Set in a dystopian near future Total Recall of the Heart starts with “transgender, virulent punk and notorious fuckboy” Skunk awakening after a several day binge. But the world he finds himself in may or may not be his actual reality; the possibility that it’s some kind of AI construct looming large.
At a gig Skunk recognises former associate (and perhaps something a lot more) Em, except in this reality she’s going by the name Imogen and appears not to know him. Who is Skunk and what is his history fighting against this police state? Who is Em and what is her true connection to him? And is he living in a fantasy… or a conspiracy?
Going back to that opening paragraph Hodges does indeed generate more than enough interest in this opener to guarantee readers will be back for more. Total Recall of the Heart has a grimy allure, a kind of claustrophobic pull that entangles the reader in its oppressively unrelenting clutches. Story foundation is established, intriguing characters introduced, and hints at backstory (especially specifically in the opening sequence with Em/Imogen) that leave the readers begging for answers.
If there is a criticism to be made here, though, it’s that the clarity and world-building don’t always go hand-in-hand in Total Recall of the Heart #1. There’s a lot more information given about this future timeline and the characters’ motivations in the Kickstarter blurb that, had it been worked into this first issue organically, could have made for a richer reading experience.
Still, the intensity of Lizzie Styles’ art adds extra thematic levels to this tale with moody colouring choices proving highly effective in establishing tone and clever visual storytelling tricks keeping the reader guessing as to the nature of what we are (or possibly are not) perceiving. Ultimately at the end of issue #1 you’ll only feel disappointed by the knowledge that it’s going to be 2026 until you get to see where the story heads next. And that, in my estimation for this queer cyberpunk love story, is job done… and job done well.
Phoebe Hedges (W/L), Lizzie Styles (A/C) • Self-published
Review by Andy Oliver
