“POP” #1 is a cultural satire that points an un-shaking finger at the modern music industry and implicates the rest of us along the way. “POP” imagines a world where artists are grown in a lab and kept under control by the record label execs that created them. If you have even an ounce of curmudgeon, you will really appreciate this book.
WRITTEN BY: Curt Pires
ART BY: Jason Copland
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: August 27, 2014
Reviewed By Epic Switzer
“POP” is a cynical book, and I mean that in the best way possible. On the surface it is a relatively simple story: a newly incubated pop singer escapes and crosses paths with a typical, down-on-his-luck kind of guy who takes her in. The two are being pursued by a real life pop star (I dare not say who though as that reveal is one of the most enjoyable parts of the book). It is a welcoming enough premise, but what is really so engaging about the book is how dense it is with complex themes about modern culture.
Curt Pires presents many opportunities to reflect on the everyday things that we just accept as normal in this first issue. With this book he is calling us out: We, the sound-bite generation, the culture of mass consumption, blindly perpetuate a cycle of meaningless consumerism. Curt invites us to break our programming and recode; the escape the cycle before we consume ourselves. It’s a profound book, and one that I hope one day can reach a mainstream audience with a film or HBO show because, like Curt, I think the message is important.
I would be remiss not to tell you that Jason Copland’s work is incredible are serves both theme are story better than you can imagine. These archetypes are some of the most human looking characters in comics. When you get to the store just look at the first page. I dare you to not be impressed.
“POP” is uniquely enjoyable and critically important. Even if you think Pires is overly cynical you have to appreciate the initiative. Anyone that tries to wake people up and make them think is a hero to me. No matter how the rest of it plays out, this book won’t soon be forgotten.
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Epic Switzer AKA Eric is an aspiring filmmaker and screenplay writer living in Los Angeles. His work tends to focus on the lighter side of entropy, dystopic futures, and man’s innate struggle with his own mortality. He can be found on twitter @epicswitzer or reached via email at ericswitzerfilm@gmail.com.