Twig #1 Nails Its Open World Game VIBE
Fantasy comics are a dangerous game. These comics often introduce entirely constructed worlds, intricate magic systems, and fictional characters with unique traits. Fantasy can be a disorienting genre for readers who struggle to navigate the complex maze of stories that throw out all of our rules.
Fantasy is full of innovation and incredible creativity. These are why certain readers love romance, where imagination and realism intersect in an accessible way. Skottie Young wrote the story, Kyle Strahm illustrated it, Jean-Francois Bellieu colored it, and Nate Piekos lettered it. Twig #1 is an open-world video game that communicates its fantastic story.
Twig #1 begins with what feels like a cutscene from a game. On the first day of his new adventure as a Placing adventurer, we meet Twig, the fuzzy blue protagonist. Twig is akin to Alice in Wonderland’s White Rabbit and yells about being late. He first mocks his snail-like companion Glup, then hurriedly talks about his tardiness with other inhabitants of his world as he races across fantasy woodland landscapes to check in on his job.
Twig #1 is bustling with activity immediately. Incredible detail is displayed in the interactions Twig has with characters and environments. The small pieces that are left behind by “NPC”-adjacent people toward Twig give the reader a sense of an open-world game structure. They also get a glimpse of the world’s vastness they explore within the first few pages. The comic’s opening scenes are based on a horizontal grid layout of three panels. These landscapes are lush and full of color, with intricate design work showing the free-roaming game possibilities Twig seems to have.
Twig arrives at work when the road turns into a cliff. This scene reminds me of Zelda games like Skyward Sword or Breath of The Wild, where players must find a fast-travel or skyward route to continue their journey. You don’t have to press a button in comic books to interact with other characters. The page cuts to a magnificent splash page, where Mount Guphin, a gigantic humanoid mountain, screams at Twig for his lateness.
Mount Guphin uses a gentle scolding, tinged with wise advice about the dangers of wasting time when the entire world depends on Twig to help him bridge the gap between himself and the cliff. Twig walks into a talking mountain, where his journey begins. Twig and the reader will have an adventure as he navigates Mount Guph’s darkness.
Twig’s ultimate goal becomes more precise, and readers begin to treasure the elements that allow for open-world exploration. Twig will need to communicate with his side characters to find items and get valuable hints about the next steps. Our furry friend is a great cook and loves to prepare food for Glup and himself. Twig and Glup are a great pair. They discuss every step of their expedition together and then enjoy a quick meal. It reminds me of the Monster Hunters with their Felyne Palacios. Cute animal characters eating like humans is the best thing.
Each panel invites readers to enjoy the exquisitely designed environment in which they are placed. The comic is filled with soothing colors. The comic is largely washed in pastels and devoid of any rigid linework. Twig’s world is free from any borders or limitations, which opens up the possibility that Twig could be allowed to wander the fantasyland until the creators stop creating it.
Many social media posters pose questions such as, “If you could live in the last videogame you played, what would you choose?” If Twig were a videogame, I’d love to spend my life inside its vast topography.
Twig moves through each scene with ease thanks to this comic. The comic’s balanced focus on movement and character development give the impression that readers have some influence over Twig’s story. It is almost like a video-game protagonist. The story is a fantasy miniseries that opens up the world to readers of all ages and genres.
Twig is a cute character who uses a little knapsack to store his items for his adventures. We might see him gain new abilities or acquire armor to use during his adventures. The charming, video-game-adjacent fantasy dimension of Twig #1 has endless potential.
