MY BROTHER, TEDDY, available from Jaromir ’Jay’ François on February 3rd, 2021, is a unique experience in comics storytelling as a child’s adventure comes to life. A motion comic that relies entirely on art and music. No lettering. No recorded dialog. Pure appeal to the senses.
The Details
- Written By: Jaromir François
- Art By: Todor Hristov
- Colors By: Sonya Anastasova
- Soundtrack By: Lawren Brianna Ware
- Cover Art By: Todor Hristov, Sonya Anastasova
- Cover Price: $5 from creator’s site
- Release Date: February 3, 2021
Was It Good?
‘Good’ isn’t a suitable description for this comic. MY BROTHER, TEDDY isn’t meant to create a new superhero or set the stage for a large, epic adventure. By combining wordless visuals with a musical soundtrack and occasional sound effects, the core of this book’s intention is to make the reader feel.
Therefore, the real question is “Does this comic make you feel something?”
For this reviewer, the answer is ‘yes.’
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a young boy sleeping in his room on a stormy night. IN between the thunder cracks, a dark, malignant presence emerges from the boy’s closet to steal him into its own world of darkness.
Right away, we notice a few things about the book. The visuals are stunning. The pencils and inks are expressive and powerful. Hristov’s art style is reminiscent of John Buscema during his Conan runs combined with Sean Gordon Murphy, particularly in the very clean uses of hatching lines to bring depth to the musculature of the characters. It suits this story exceptionally well.
The music from Lawren Brianna Ware also suits the material well. Using the lower octaves to express danger and fear fits the art as a perfect pairing.
The boy’s teddy bear, Teddy, comes to life after the boy’s abduction. Realizing his friend has been taken, Teddy dons armor, a sword, and a shield before entering the darkness. The outfit looks as if homemade by a child, and it fits the determined stuffed teddy bear exactly.
However, when Teddy enters the darkness, he’s transformed into the personification of his spirit to become a massive warrior, ready for battle. Teddy becomes the warrior the boy knows him to be, and Teddy fights the worst monsters of the Underworld to bring his friend home.
The comic tells a series of chapters or vignettes where Teddy is the warrior hero, but there’s a subtle hint that the adventures are metaphors for the daily struggles the boy faces on a daily basis. Each chapter could be interpreted as the boy facing off against bullies or the sadness of growing older to leave your childhood dreams behind.
In a way, Teddy is the boy’s protector and a projection of what the boy aspires to be. It’s a thoughtful and riveting example of the adventurous imaginings of childhood brought to life.
We conclude the book with a last adventure that could lead to many more.
How Does It End?
The crown is passed. The boy becomes a man wearing familiar armor. The darkness awaits.
Final Thoughts
MY BROTHER, TEDDY, available from Jaromir ’Jay’ François on February 3rd, 2021, is an exceptional motion comic that speaks (figuratively) to the heart of childhood imagination and how it reflects the experience of life as we grow up. This is a highly recommended book.
Score: 9.5/10
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