BROADLEAF #1, from Brandon Horn on Kickstarter, begins a soulful fantasy tale about a father and son on a hunting trip on an island where the animals talk.
The Details
- Written by: Brandon Horn
- Art by: Robert Jennex
- Colors by: Robert Jennex
- Letters by: Brandon Horn
- Cover art by: Robert Jennex
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover price: $5.00
- Release date: November 2023 (estimated)
Is BROADLEAF #1Good?
BROADLEAF #1 is an oddly whimsical tale about a father and son bonding during a hunting trip on a forest island where the animals can talk with each other and the father. Brandon Horn’s low fantasy uniquely shows the ebb and flow of existence from a human and animal perspective to create an opportunity for young Beckett to learn about the diverse meanings of life, death, and everything in between.
Horn’s story centers on a Fall hunting trip with a hunter and his son, Beckett. The father is terminally ill, and he’s determined to impart as many life lessons to Beckett as he can in the time he has left. Beckett is apprehensive about killing animals for food, but he soon learns there’s an honor in the cycle of life and death, especially when his father carries on a cordial chat with a wolf named Espen the father and son encounter on their hike.
Beyond the talking animals, there is a magical occurrence involving portals that aren’t given any explanation or backstory. Presumably, the reason behind the animals’ ability to talk and the magical portals to ethereal voids will receive some explanation in a future issue, but here, you’re invited to just go with it.
What’s great about BROADLEAF #1? Brandon Horn’s magical world whistles and hums with magic. Everything, from the deer to the blades of grass, feels like it’s ready to spring to life at any moment, but the magic feels natural in Horn’s world., which makes you want to explore all the possibilities waiting around the corner.
What’s not so great about BROADLEAF #1? The narrative switches from the human to different animals at different times for different reasons where you’re brought into the middle of a conversation or scene. It’s frequently unclear if what’s happening is meaningful to the central plot, which also isn’t immediately clear. The comic as a whole is a smattering of little snippets of events, but it hasn’t come together yet into a cohesive plot.
How’s the art? Robert Jennex’s character designs are accessible and distinctive, but his coloring is where this comic shines. Jennex utilizes the full spectrum of nature to add pop and shine to every panel.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s BROADLEAF #1 About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a father and son beginning a hunting hike on an island near their hometown. The father, called Hunter, is determined to impart life lessons to his son Beckett before illness renders the father too unwell. Hunter is a traditional, grounded man who has distinct ideas about a man’s responsibility in the world.
Later, father and son encounter deer arguing over leadership rights to their herd, and Beckett is given the chance to shoot a deer to provide Dinner. Beckett’s shot only wounds the deer as it runs off, but the wounded deer later falls through a portal when he encounters a rival to his mate.
We conclude the issue with a helpful Moose, a respectful wolf, and a second chance.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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BROADLEAF #1 begins a low fantasy tale about a father/son hunting trip with a magical twist when the forest is alive with talking animals. Horn’s story captures the magic of the forest brimming with potential, and Jennex’s eye is eye-catching, but the plot and direction of the story struggle to take shape.
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