DON’T SPIT IN THE WIND #1, from Mad Cave Studios on March 29th, 2023, imagines a trash-ravaged Earth unfit for human living. What happens when the clean-up crew sent to make Earth habitable meets deadly resistance?
The Details
- Written by: Stefano Cardoselli
- Art by: Stefano Cardoselli
- Colors by: Dan Lee
- Letters by: Dan Lee
- Cover art by: Stefano Cardoselli
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 29, 2023
Is It Good?
DON’T SPIT IN THE WIND #1 is a cynically satirical take on dystopian futures wrapped around a murder mystery. Yes, that sounds like a lot of fancy double-speak, but it’s accurate. Imagine Pixar’s WALL-E with more cursing, violence, and dark humor, and that’s what you get with DON’T SPIT IN THE WIND #1. In short, this is an entertaining comic.
Cardoselli’s script centers on Travis, a clean-up worker stationed on a trash-riddled, future Earth to clear the debris in the hopes of making the planet habitable again after the population absconded to a space station in high orbit. One day, Travis encounters very serious trouble.
Cardoselli hits all the right notes by taking satirical jabs at consumerism, environmentalism, blue-collar cynicism, and all the -ism’s you can imagine in setting up Travis’s life and world. Everything from the cardboard-box-shaped trash movers to the little coffee feeders in Travis’s mech suit to the painted graffiti on the buildings makes for a world that feels lived-in while simultaneously fantastical.
When Travis encounters what he thinks is a small problem with a cleaner that loses contact, Cardoselli turns a simple story into an escalating mystery rife with panic and bloodshed. In fairness, you don’t get much more than a hint about what’s happening until the last few pages, but the escalation hits fast and hard, so the shock generates plenty of momentum mixed with curiosity about what happens next.
We’ve reviewed Cardoselli’s comics before, but this is the first time we’ve seen him paired with Dan Lee on colors, and the two paired together are a winning combination. Lee’s bold, vibrant color choices give Cardoselli’s inks a stronger contrast against the backgrounds, indirectly making Cardoselli’s style stand out more. Admittedly, Cardoselli’s style will be an acquired taste for some readers, but the addition of Lee’s coloring makes Cardoselli’s work more engaging.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with an introduction to Travis – a member of a clean-up crew sent to Earth to clear away decades of trach that left the planet uninhabitable for humans. Travis slogs through his days and dreams of moving in with his girlfriend once he’s saved up enough money.
One day, a nearby crew loses communications contact, and Travis is sent to investigate. Communication loss is nothing new, but there’s something odd about this situation. As Travis approaches the missing crew, he’s joined by other workers to aid in the search.
We conclude the issue with a swarm, death, and nap time.
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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DON’T SPIT IN THE WIND #1 takes the concept of WALL-E for adults and gives it a satirical edge that makes for an entertaining first issue. Cardoselli’s storytelling about cynical trash cleaners adds a murderous twist to an intriguing mystery, and Dan Lee’s coloring makes Cardoselli’s unique art style significantly better.
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