Negative Exposure

(Humanoids, 2001-2002)

American comics fans may go nuts for manga, but European comics have proven to be a harder sell. Maybe it’s the album format, the subject matter (there’s the preconception they’re either too coldly intellectual or just lowbrow excuses for female nudity, à la Heavy Metal), or the distinctly “European” art. But maybe Negative Exposure, with its East meets Western Europe fusion art style that suggests Tintin by way of Akira will be the comic book that breaks through that bias.

Though published in a regular comic-book format, from the 11 or 12 panels packed per page, it’s clear this was originally drawn as an album—not that there’s anything wrong with that; it gives the story a high-impact cinematic feel. There are fabulous babes and hairpin turns, as the more-than-he-appears reporter hero gets caught up in a plot that involves international politics and theme parks. This is one lush, slick package.

— S.A. Bennett

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