A good book transports the reader into the world created by the author, but in the case of The Fiction, that journey is a very literal one for four childhood friends. When they discover a crate full of books in an attic, they find themselves in possession of a portal to a world of imagination and wonder in the form of a magic text that pulls readers into its pages when read aloud. This preview of next week’s debut issue spotlights the thrill these adolescents experience with their magic gateway, but the fun isn’t going to last very long.
The main action of this new miniseries by writer Curt Pires, artist David Rubín, and colorist Michael Garland takes place 15 years after this initial discovery, when one of these four friends mysteriously disappears. He’s the second disappearance tied to the magic book, and the remaining two friends are eager to figure out what’s happening before they become the next victims. The first issue is an intriguing start to the story, with a script that balances anxiety with excitement to highlight both the terror and awe the book inspires in those who come into contact with it.
Spanish artist David Rubín burst onto the American comics scene last year with the Battling Boy prequel The Rise Of Aurora West, and June is a great month for fans of this incredibly dynamic artist. In addition to The Fiction, Rubín also has The Hero Book on stands from Dark Horse Comics this month, a gorgeous retelling of the Heracles myth that he both writes and draws. Rubín’s work in this preview of The Fiction #1 is full of nuanced character expression and bold fantasy designs, and Garland’s palette marks the strong shift in atmosphere by using a wider spectrum of colors when the kids enter the world inside the text. The rush of color makes everything look more vibrant and fun, disguising the horror hiding within the book’s pages.