CORSET #1, available from Scout Comics on September 29th, 2021, spins a yarn of an enigmatic fashion designer in 19th century Europe whose brilliant designs capture the accolades of critics, but a humble woman’s mishap captures the designer’s heart.
The Details
- Written By: Jurii Kurnev
- Art By: Elina Klyushnikova
- Colors By: Elina Klyushnikova
- Letters By: Jurii Kurnev
- Cover Art By: Elina Klyushnikova
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Release Date: September 29, 2021
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Was It Good?
It’s not bad. I like the art. I like the concept as a unique twist on Edwards Scissorhands/Beauty and the Beast. However, the rough spots are very rough, so it’s enjoyable as a whole if you’re willing to overlook a few glaring flaws.
First, the story. This is a Victorian-era take on the humble girl with a heart of gold befriending someone (or something) who would normally be shunned by society. By itself, the concept isn’t original, but the concept sports a fresh coat of paint with the setting and theme to make it feel brand new. D’Alpen (the enigmatic designer) has lived in seclusion for years by tapping into a near-limitless well of creativity, but it’s the friendship of Elize that taps into D’Alpen’s “soul”. The success or failure of the execution hinges on how well the friendship between D’Alpen and Elize plays out, and it does so fairly well.
However, that brings us to the down point — the dialog. Clunky isn’t a strong enough word to describe how rough the dialog is in some spots. The character of D’Alpen could be excused for having an almost inhuman quality to his speaking style, but the rest of the characters fall short in the way they speak.
The heart of the problem is in the misplaced vernacular. For example, the sisters who manage D’Alpen’s fashion house refer to Elize as “Honey” and use words like “okay?” and “seriously?” It seems like a small thing described here, but the artist went to great lengths to set the entire story in a very specific time period and location, and it completely pulls you out of the story when the characters sass each other like gum-snapping waitresses working at a 1950’s truck stop.
On the art, it’s not the most polished and pristine work you’ve ever seen, but it has a certain storybook charm that suits the story. What elevates the art beyond adequate linework is the interesting use of shading in Klyushnikova’s coloring. Individual scenes are separated by different shades of patina, and the shadows around the contours of each character create an unexpected pop for a book that’s meant to be B&W. The art is the most memorable component of this comic.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Young Elize is attending, with her nasty Aunt Marta, a fashion show by the mysterious designer D’Alpen. Elize doesn’t have money or means to be a woman of society, and she’s forced to tag along with her Aunt, enduring constant criticism and complaints.
During D’Alpen’s latest event, Elize accidentally disrupts the proceedings when she’s knocked down on the runaway by rude pushers and shovers. She runs away in embarrassment, but she’s noticed and summoned by D’Alpen from his lofty design studio. D’Alpen’s assistants bring Elize to him for a private conversation. D’Alpen remains hidden in a high-backed chair facing the window, and he explains he would like Elize to stay and teach him about the intricacies of emotion on the condition that she never sees his face. Elize accepts as she has nowhere to go since her Aunt expelled her from her house over the public embarrassment from the fashion show.
Over the course of weeks, Elize reads to D’Alpen different genres of stories to help him understand the classical concepts of love, hate, fear, etc. Eventually, the two develop a kindly friendship that inspires D’Alpen to create his greatest fashion line.
During the night of the new collection, named ‘Elize’, Elize demands to see D’Alpen’s true face. We conclude the story with a surprise and clear understanding of D’Alpen’s predicament, an attack by a fashion rival, and an ending that takes D’Alpen’s legend to new heights.
Final Thoughts
CORSET #1 is an imaginative take on Beauty and the Beast set in the high-society world of Victorian-era fashion. The art captures the charm of antiquity with surprisingly eye-catching coloring, and the story takes a classic story concept and makes it feel fresh with a unique spin. That said, the sometimes-modern dialog regularly pulls you out of the story to dampen the reading experience.
Score: 7.5/10
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