Welcome to an all-new edition of Parlay points!
For this entry, DSTLRY is releasing a brand new series that has a unique concept behind it. The upstart publisher is known for its’ creative stories. However, this series combines the writing talents of two of comics’ best for the first time on page. The result is a sci-fi odyssey told through two different perspectives.
LIFE #1 by Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets), Stephanie Phillips (GRIM), Danijel Zezelj (Nostalgia), Lee Loughridge and Jared K. Fletcher welcomes readers into a future where two lives are on a collision course their prison sentances can’t escape.
Let’s take a closer look at this much anticipated debut chapter.
LIFE #1 by Brian Azzarello, Stephanie Phillips, Danijel Zezelj, Lee Loughridge and Jared K. Fletcher (DSTLRY) Cover: JOCK
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Knowing the writing team behind this, this story was going to be anything but ordinary. The futuristic story is told through Bobby Prost (“PRO”) & the “Cassanova Killer” Cory James (“CON”). Prost is a “retired” thief talked into one last job. James is a serial killer whose been forced to live out his life sentences due to a secret experiment. Both have very different stories behind them.
Prost is written as a man trying to escape his past. His Angel/Devil on his shoulder is the persistent Jax. Their dialogue brings Prost’s doubts to the forefront. Events quickly speed into another direction entirely. Azzarello and Phillips waste little time in setting up the next heist. Pacing allows an excellent build, this carries into its’ closing act. The final page throws everything in flux leading into the flip. It’s high level storytelling that hits its mark with this portion.
The story of James is more disturbing due to his criminal nature. The dialogue involving his crimes is filled with anger and rage. Readers will have a clear view of the evil monster behind his charming smile. The path he walks from this point is dark and troubling. Its’ mirrored by the actions of the experiments. The outcome plays into a twisting scenario. Now moved onto a prison planet, James is broken and more unhinged. The writing leaves him in a very peculiar place for the closing pages. There’s no way to walk away from this story after that conclusion.
Zezelj and Loughridge add a certain mystique to the futuristic setting of this tale. Prost’s beginnings are gritty and carry the hardships he’s dealt with. This changes quickly once the two page splash image from space hits. Readers see how things have changed instantly. The contact with the the heist team gives off “Oceans 11” vibes in the images. No stand out more than the final page. It’s a bold picture that truly does a “mic drop” moment to end events with.
As for James’ story, the art locks in on his evil persona. The opening page from a murder sends chills through readers. Its emotions are added to the volatile state of the courtroom where James is being tried. James’ constant smirk fails to hide the evil lurking inside him. This builds right to the experiment phase of the story. The art becomes vastly different unveiling James’ fate. It becomes more explosive with James’ haunting eyes staring at readers as he calls his next moves.
FINAL POINT: 10
“Life” takes bold chances and constructs a gripping tale of challenging directions. Azzarello and Phillips’s writing is flawless as it tells two very different perspectives. Zezelj and Loughridge delve into imaginative landscapes and shocking characters. Rest assured, readers can’t afford to miss checking this series out.
Hit me up on ODPHpod social media and let me know your thoughts on Life #1. Thanks for reading!