DREAM MASTER #1, from BlackBox Comics on November 30th, 2022, follows a young girl trapped in a world where nightmares can become reality. Can a protector save her from her worst fears?
The Details
- Written by: Jonathan Hedrick
- Art by: Luigi Barricelli
- Colors by: Rubin Curto
- Letters by: DC Hopkins
- Cover art by: Luigi Barricelli (cover A)
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: November 30, 2022
Is It Good?
DREAM MASTER #1 takes readers on a very quick and very wild ride in the world of dreams. Here, your worst fears become real, and if they kill you in the Dream World, you die in the real world.
Jonathan Hedrick’s latest comic from BlackBox Comics is possibly the fastest comic we’ve ever read that simultaneously establishes the Dream World, all its rules, and the conflict to come. Dreams can be ethereal and confusing, so Hedrick wisely keeps the confusion in check by using an unfortunate dreamer as the audience surrogate as she peppers the titular character with questions to understand what’s happening. Remarkably, you get (almost) all you need to know about this world and its dangers in a standard-sized comic.
The minor down point of the issue is the conversation between the Dream Master and the unfortunate dreamer he escorts to safety. Their lengthy Q&A, at times, feels like a barely masked exposition dump right at the midway point. The information is necessary, but the conversation sounds more like an interview than a natural exchange between two people. In other words, the middle drags for a brief period.
Regarding the art, kudos to Luigi Barricelli and Rubin Curto for turning in beautiful visuals. The setting and backgrounds are dreamily bizarre enough to give you a reason to spend extra time examining each panel. However, the central characters are grounded enough to keep readers focused on what matters. In short, there’s a boatload of creativity in the art alone, and the exciting action is icing on the proverbial cake.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a young girl running through the Dream World. She’s chased by a dogman intent on killing her. Before the dogman can reach the girl, it’s struck down by a masked figure, called Dream Master, carrying a crossbow.
The Dream Master offers to guide the girl to safety, and she accepts. During their walk, the curious girl peppers Dream Master with a series of questions about where they are and why this situation doesn’t feel like an ordinary dream.
Their walk takes the duo to the top of a pyramid where a winged demon comes out of hiding and threatens to kill the travelers. We conclude the issue with the differences in demons, an invitation, and returning memories.
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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DREAM MASTER #1 is a lightning-fast, creative, and intriguing read about a realm where nightmares become deadly. The pacing matches an Olympic sprint (except for a brief lull in the middle), and the art evokes the wonder and fears of imagination without restraint.
Related Information
What dreams actually mean?
Dreams are the brain “playing” without the demands of conscious decision-making or sensory input from the surrounding well. Dreams often reflect unexplored thoughts from waking hours.
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