Indie Comic Review: Glow #1

Pacing is one of the most difficult aspects of writing. Writers are often so enthusiastic about their stories that they want to dump the entire history of the universe and its characters right from the start. Things should be taken slow. Reading a comic should be an experience that allows the reader to slowly immerse themselves in the environment. So many indie comics fail to understand this that it's refreshing when one pulls it off well. The first issue of Glow is a great example. 

The story takes place in a fantasy desert where two children go out scavenging for mystical artifacts. They only find one at the start of the story and bring it back to their village, but the man in charge is disappointed with their find. There's a woman in the village who is adept in magic, and the issue ends when this witch is brought to their home by the man, leaving the story on a cliffhanger. 

From a plot perspective, the first issue is fairly paint by numbers. All of the beats are pretty standard without much surprise. However, the issue succeeds because of that and not in spite of it. This whimsical story and art create an atmosphere reminiscent of a video game. The characters are engaging and there's enough mystery about this world to keep me turning the page. Just enough information was given naturally through dialogue that the world and its characters held some mystery as it unfolded. While the lettering was passable, there were a few spots that could have used work. But overall, that minor blemish isn't nearly enough to ruin the well-produced issue.