Zero is a book that I always want and need to read twice, and this month’s was no exception. However, this month I also needed to go back and read issue #10, paying special attention to the dates. Issue #11 takes place four years after the previous issue, which is nothing new as the story jumps through Edward Zero’s life in an apparently random nature that is carefully plotted by Kot to serve the overarching premise and theme of the work.
The first six pages, taking place over three days, set the tone. Edward appears to have found happiness, which is amazing if you’ve read the previous ten issues and understand what this man has seen and done. Then the situation begins to acquire a feeling of menace on “Day Four”, leading to a well paced action sequence and a two word final page that makes it difficult to wait until next month. Of course, knowing the nature of the storytelling devices being employed, next issue will probably be a tale of Edward’s youth, and that will only heighten the drama of what occurred.
This month’s chapter was illustrated by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, who captures the tone of this installment beautifully. Zero is a disjointed narrative, employing a different art team for every issue, and each individual artistic style reflects the theme Kot is conveying through a minimalist narrative, followed by instances of verbose philosophical exploration.
Zero isn’t a book you can just “jump into”. It is dense and cinematic and cerebral and well worth the multiple readings each issue demands. Please, I beg you, read the first collected edition, An Emergency, that reprints issues 1 – 5.
You won't be disappointed.
- Aloha -
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