cover image Cadaver

Cadaver

Jonah D. Ansell, Carina Simmons, Eric Vennemeyer, Abe Dieckman. Academy Chicago, $19.95 (112p) ISBN 978-0-89733-702-1

Based on the acclaimed animated short film of the same name, this is less a comic book and more a glorified storyboard. It is essentially a poem about a med student who cuts open an old man’s cadaver only to find the old man’s heart beating again after removal. The cadaver’s search to find his still living wife who he still loves has plenty of charm, and a cynical twist keeps the story from becoming too cloying. The cartoonish style is a good fit, but the artwork is inconsistent, and what works so well in the animation—creative angles and a bold style—doesn’t work as well on the page. Perhaps most frustratingly, the printing is far too dark, with every page overwhelmed by shiny black backgrounds. And the poetic script is far less compelling than when given voice by talented actors. Not every story translates well to new media, and while an actual comic book based on this story might be powerful, this version falls flat. (Feb.)