The Junction

“I’ve never met a child as old or as haunted as Lucas,” says Jean Symonds, a psychologist delving into the mystery of a missing boy in animator Konyu’s stylish debut graphic novel. Twelve years after his disappearance, Lucas Jones shows up on his uncle’s doorstep, but his return brings more questions than answers. Lucas hasn’t aged a day during his absence, and his father remains missing. Deeply concerned about Lucas’s well-being, Symonds and police detective sergeant David King do their best to unravel the boy’s enigma through a few clues, including Polaroids and Lucas’s cryptic journal about his time in a strange town called The Junction, in hopes they can help Lucas to come to terms with his lost years and the trauma that prevents him from living in the present. The geometric artwork is nuanced and subtle, and, as the story progresses, grows in intensity and complexity—as do Lucas’s fragmented memories and recurring nightmares. But the script meanders and is better at creating a sense of mystery than at accomplishing satisfying revelations. Still, fans of Stranger Things will find plenty to enjoy. (Apr.)