Escape From Wyoming: Compromise For Justice

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Escape From Wyoming one of the first titles to come out of Bad Idea’s new release line. I’ll let writer Robert Venditti do the introductions.

My Take On Escape From Wyoming

In just the first issue, Venditti and artist Jorge Monlongo set the tone with a lot emotions. Venditti presents the tragedy of Dunn, an alien ex-cop betrayed by the very corrupt systems he served. The page below does a better job explaining than I can.

Escape From Wyoming first protagonist.
Corrupt cops scapegoat one hero.
Fortunately, readers empathize with a well meaning person as tries to live his best life in a cell. After everything he’s been through, readers come to love Dunn for his unbreakable spirit. Especially since one of his only friends in the prison turns out to be dirty.

Then there’s our other protagonist, the local Earth sheriff Lowden Holliday. He tries his best to give his town a good example by taking his job seriously. It’s a small town with a few petty crimes like selling vape, but it seems alright. Holliday certainly has a healthy relationship with his dog, daughter, and co-workers.

There’s a lot of potential for a great story, but all the first issue has going for it is a countdown.

Protagonist 2 intro
Way to show transitions
So here’s the thing, apparently President Lincoln made a deal to make a piece of Earth a penal colony like Australia. This was in one of the B-Stories of Bad Idea comics so Venditti’s been planning this for a while. But the wardens went to the extreme to make sure prisoners don’t escape. Can you call a countdown that’ll destroy the planet anything less?

The Line Between Tragedy and Comedy

Monlongo’s artwork exaggerates the reactions to the events taking place. In some circumstances, it can enhance the feeling of how serious a situation is. Like how Dunn’s mother practically disowns him with a slap to the face. At the same time, it makes a serious situation jarring with how absurd it looks. Fortunately another scene featuring an exploding inmate combines the humor and plot progression seamlessly. Meanwhile the grids that form on pages give a sense of unease, especially in panel boxes with the countdown.

Alien weapons training needed.

But it’s in issue two where this all comes together. When fights happen, the reader can feel how absurd they are. Not just because of destructive alien technology, physiologies, or the panel movements that showcase them either. But there’s a countdown in the back of everyone’s heads. As if Dunn and Holliday don’t have enough trouble, every issue ends with more problems foreshadowed. This’ll leave reader’s interest glued ready for the next issue.

Escape From Wyoming is unpredictable in the most fun ways.

Color The Pace!

The coloring really plays its part well of identifying the divide between the aliens and Earth. Every alien scene has this bright and futuristic look that conveys a faster pace. Unlike the more rustic browns of Earth that feels devoid of activity. It makes what encounters between them so notable, like a predator catching prey off guard. It’s also what makes the muted yellow Dunn feel more at home on Earth than other aliens.

Troy Peteri’s lettering helps reflect the pace of actions. Without even seeing what happens on one page, the SFX in juxtaposition with Dunn’s reactions gives readers everything they need to know.

The Pitfall

But with issue 3 being the last of this saga, I have to address my one complaint. The plot’s pace moves just a little too fast. Although Dunn and Holliday are our protagonists they don’t really have arcs. If anything they feel more like plot elements near the end. As if their stories are reserved for the followup “Return To Escape From Wyoming”.

If this was anyone’s story, it was the prison guard who helped with the breakout Vikk. His disillusionment with the law led him to view himself as a prisoner. He admired Dunn and hated that corrupt officials who put him there. Not to mention his work place seemed to act like a cult. Vikk felt so powerless as a low level prison guard, he was ready to throw it all away and die free. He’s sympathetic in that way but also someone we’d rather see humbled than sacrifice others for.

Escape From Wyoming: A Bad Idea With Potential

Escape From Wyoming has a lot of potential with its expressive artwork. It gives readers a feel for how dire the plot is, while also sprinkling slapstick humor. Suspense and absurdist comedy do make bizarrely memorable times. But it feels like this is just half of one story with a followup announcement. This saga gets 7.5/10.

But the ink’s not dry yet, and remember to look between the panels.

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