The Arcs is hell.
No, it’s not a bad book (quite the opposite, actually). Writer/Creator Michael D. Poisson has simply crafted a tale so haunting and emotional that you’ll be praying for a shed of hope on each and every one of its 80 pages.
If you’re not interested in reading the buttload of praise that I’m about to give this book, here’s a TL:DR – The Arcs is among the most original graphic novels I’ve experienced in recent memory, and is a tale that stuck with me for eons after I’d finished reading. At the book’s conclusion, you’ll simply be begging for more, and I sure as hell hope that Poisson and his team have a sequel planned for this one (and more than one at that).
Yep, The Arcs is fantastic.
I first heard of the title back when its release date was announced this past Summer, and was immediately intrigued by its simple, yet profound plot. The book tells the story of the seven Archangels (the Arcs, duh), who are charged with protecting the Earth after God completely disappears. The angels wage a never-ending war with the armies of Hell, who (of course) want Earth and its inhabitants for themselves. The Arcs open as the angel army is in dire straights: Hell’s army grows more and more powerful, while angels are being torn apart left and right or worse: losing their faith and joining the ranks of the demons. It’s a very original twist on the age-old Heaven vs. Hell storyline, and one with a myriad of clever twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. I absolutely loved the fact that not even the angels knew where God had gone (or when, if at all, he would return), and had to instead rely on blind faith that there was a purpose to their father’s actions.
The story isn’t as black-and-white as it initially sounds (I definitely don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll stop there), but interestingly enough, the art is. That’s right: beneath Matt Jacob’s gorgeous cover (wonderfully coloured by Carlos Badilla), lies an entirely monochrome book, and I think that The Arcs is all the better for it. Sure, colours can be drab and disheartening, but nothing can give off a feeling of hopelessness as strongly as a completely colourless page. Jacob’s has done some incredible work here, elegantly displaying the invisible war between worlds (with humanity caught in the middle), and intelligently using light, darkness, and shadow to add all sorts of emotion to each and every scene. An incredible amount of detail is packed into each page of The Arcs, a feat that could only have been infinitely more challenging without the use of colour. I often found myself studying pages for an extended period of time, simply revelling in the stark contrast of parties present in each hellish battle.
The only problem that I had with The Arcs (and what a problem to have), is that it was over all too quickly. The book feels like a phenomenal introduction to a much larger series (and a tale that could go on for a very long time), and at its conclusion, all that I wanted was more (and more, and more). There’s still a ton of tale to tell here, and I certainly hope that Michael D. Poisson and his team, and Fanboy Comics, have a chance to continue it.
The Arcs scores a clear 5/5. You can check out a preview of the book here, and pick up your very own copy here! Already read it? Be sure to let us know what you though! Again, this one is definitely worth the price of admission.
