MIND MGMT vol. 1 by Matt Kindt – Dark horse – $19.99
Mind MGMT, a Dark Horse original by Matt Kindt, seems to start like a confusing mess but expertly coalesces into something surprisingly elegant. This book showcases an impressive mind bending tale with subtle foreshadowing throughout. Normally I might be put off by the lack of answers a story gives me, but it’s the questions this one generates that make it so interesting and engaging.
The story follows Meru, a true-crime writer on the last of her luck. She sets out to unravel a mystery of the “Amnesia Flight”; an incident where all 120 people on the plane simultaneously lost their memory. She sets out to find a passenger named Henry Lyme who apparently disappeared from the flight. The resulting adventure takes the reader to many unexpected places.
I can’t divulge anything more about the story, because of the way it weaves in and out of itself, any information I give could ruin the complexity. Suffice it to say that it’s done well, and not what I originally expected once I reached the end. Kindt, who is an award-winning writer, definitely knows what he’s doing and definitely deserves some recognition for his work. While I was admittedly lost and confused when the story started, it was Kindt’s subtle hand that brought me slowly around, and I can imagine that another reading will only reveal new little hints I missed the first time through.
Kindt is a fantastic writer, but I, unfortunately, have to be honest here and say that I do not love his artwork. At first glance it all looks rough, and sketchy, and feels unfinished. From time to time it does work rather well, with some fantastic story enhancing visuals, but turning the page can find one panel that looks awkward and it jarred me from the intricacy of the story more than a few time. In the end I can’t say that the art is bad, it just lacks the kind of refinement that I feel this story really deserves.
During my first read through of this book, I wasn’t fond. Still the ending forced me back, and I found myself wanting to reread it, and continue in the series past this first collection. In the second time through I found all these little things I missed the first time and it brought me into the story even further. It was exceptionally engaging, and aside from some awkward artwork, was well worth the experience. I would highly recommend this book to anyone; just warn them to ignore some of the artwork and focus on the story.
You can check out a six page preview of MIND MGMT here. Get you copy of MIND MGMT Volume 1
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Rex Hansen has returned from the wilds of the midwest. He reviews for us each Tuesday.
