Oscar Isaac’s Head Wounds Gives a Biblical Shock to a Broken System

When we first meet Leo Guidry, the principle character of Head Wounds: Sparrow—a brand new graphic novel developed by Oscar Isaac, written by Brian Buccellato, illustrated by Christian Ward, and created by Robert Johnson and John Alvey—he’s not a lot of a hero. He’s a crooked cop in New Orleans who appears extra enthusiastic about getting drunk and having intercourse along with his married girlfriend than he’s invested in serving to folks. That adjustments when he’s shot within the head.

Except, he’s not shot. Another cop was shot, and he’s simply been cursed to bear the injuries of those that get damage below his watch. As Leo offers with the truth that he’s bleeding from a head wound that solely he can see, mystical forces—each angel, demonic, and all these misplaced souls in between—are congregating in New Orleans.

The e book is treading well-worn floor; a foul cop with a chip on his shoulder, and a useless spouse and child, who’s being compelled to cope with the implications of his actions. While this can be a comparatively widespread formulation, the deep, wealthy worldbuilding connected to the lore of this world, alongside the completely stellar artwork by Christian Ward (who’s well-known for his shiny, poppy, graphic designs and his daring use of vibrant colours) elevates Head Wounds: Sparrow from what might need been normal fare right into a dizzying, gut-wrenching, and splendidly esoteric graphic novel that’s effectively price selecting up.

As Leo fights in opposition to his first intuition, which is to easily Not Get Involved, he has to cope with the truth that he has failed the folks he ought to have needed to guard. It’s not that he tried and failed, it’s that he didn’t actually strive in any respect. It takes divine intervention earlier than he wakes up and begins to grasp the sort of ache he’s brought about… actually. Then, the right one-two punch of bodily injury and psychic trauma; solely he can see his vicariously inflicted wounds. He feels their ache consistently, however there is no such thing as a treatment for his wounds as a result of, in an ironic second of divine retribution, they don’t exist.

I at all times respect a comic book that may be violent and horrific with out essentially counting on fixed graphic depictions of gore to get the purpose throughout. A fantastic instance is when Leo first makes an attempt to stitch up his bleeding head wound, and we get just a few panels of the needle going out and in of his pores and skin earlier than the bullet gap reopens with a pop. The remainder of the time the wound is roofed by a bloody bandage, however we’re haunted by the three panels of that wound being sewn collectively. We know what’s there.

This is Leo’s biblical reckoning. In between trying to resolve a homicide, he’s additionally acquired his fingers full looking for a pair of kidnapping victims, will get caught up in a battle between the souls trapped within the bardo of neverending half-life on Earth, and is roped right into a cult that try to sacrifice folks so as to win elections. The means that the e book combines occultism and the true penalties of human habits is certainly one of its strengths, making for a narrative that calls for Leo acknowledge not solely the hurt he does, however the inherent humanity of those who society would fairly ignore or go off as undesirable.

The art work does lots to convey the state of Leo’s headspace, alternating between aquamarine and citrine backgrounds, making a setting that isn’t gritty a lot as it’s graphic. And that’s the purpose—this e book must make you are feeling frantic, overwhelmed, just like the world is just too shiny, prefer it’s a migraine in disguise, or else we’re simply watching one other unhealthy detective get his comeuppance… and his redemption.

The factor that I actually respect about Head Wounds: Sparrow is that Leo is dragged, kicking and screaming, into redemption. He does ultimately get justice, however not for everybody he was supposed to assist, and he does ultimately discover a method to survive, nevertheless it’s at the price of who he’s, who he has been for years. His redemption comes from a power greater than himself, an angelic power, the literal concern of God put into him by the apocryphal archangel Uriel. Be not afraid, Leo Guidry, however bear in mind to do the work… or else.

Head Wounds: Sparrow is out there now. The graphic novel was developed by Oscar Isaac by way of his manufacturing firm, Mad Gene Media and printed by Legendary Comics. It was written by Brian Buccellato, illustrated by Christian Ward, and created by Robert Johnson and John Alvey.

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