The appeal of the circus is born in the pleasure of the unknown. It’s a place filled with creatures better suited to the uncanny valley than anywhere else, and yet, we often can’t look away. “Pirouette” #1 capitalizes on that fear, and entrenches it within the mind of fourteen-year-old girl. The circus has never been more simultaneously horrifying and appealing.
WRITTEN BY: Mark L Miller
ART BY: Carlos Granda
PUBLISHER: Black Mask Studios
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: October 8, 2014
I’ll be honest; I’ve never really understood the appeal of the circus. For me there’s something about it that is at its base level grossly unappealing. Yet, there is an undeniable allure and Mark L Miller understands that. He creates a place filled with a certain dust bowl aesthetic and painted in a layer of magic. It’s captivating and colorful, and like a moth to a flame, you’ll barely be able to resist.
Yet, the book doesn’t pull any punches. From the first page we’re treated to Pirouette pulling her own face off in a menacing sequence that is sure to grab your attention and show you what kind of book this can be. We’re quickly snapped back to the sun drenched reality of the circus and reminded it isn’t such a bad place.
Except it is. And the issue builds to a slow subversion of the magic on display. Pirouette is right to dream of pulling her own face off, any plight would be better than the one she’s currently found herself in. The circus attracts broken and colorful people, with their own special kinds of insanity, and by the end of the issue the magic has transitioned into something more sinister. Albeit even more appealing.
Carlos Granda is responsible for this incredible transition. His art is incredibly layered and detailed. His line work is delicate and detailed. It reminds me of Todd McFarlene’s days on “Spawn” but with an even more refined edge. His paneling is varied and dynamic, making the world of the circus burst with life in all the right moments.
The color compliments Granda’s art so well, that the result is simply stunning. There isn’t anything quick like the purple soaked hues inside the big top, with moody greens adding to a rich tapestry of royal colors that evoke a sense of debauchery.
The story does feel a tad melodramatic at the midpoint due to a fairly standard climax between Pirouette and her bully. I couldn’t help but stumble a little in this moment. It was a minor digression from an otherwise enjoyable ride, and the resolution quickly subverts any moment of victory for the most horrible fate of all. So suffice to say, I was pretty happy.
“Pirouette” gives new life to the old circus tale, by infusing a sense of heart and subverting the magic in favor of perversion. The result is a comic unlike anything you’ve ever read before, and a take on the circus that will have you longing for more.