Daniel Warren Johnson is a Chicago-based comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. He's worked on titles for most major publishers, including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image. His current series with Skybound/Image Comics is EXTREMITY, a sci-fi/fantasy title he is writing and drawing, and continues to update his webcomic Space-Mullet in his spare time.
The core idea is interesting — the exploration of the subconscious and dream world, and what each character represents and how they can help us. But the story itself felt lacking to me; many pages were about the endless war, and there wasn’t much real progress. For some reason, I also had the feeling that I’ve seen something similar before — I mean the “normal” characters suddenly thrown into a child’s world. Luckily, it’s not overly long and it does feel complete, it just didn’t offer as much as I had hoped
Do you like stories about family, fantasy, and stuff that pulls at your heart?
Than I suggest giving both volumes a try (I've read both, but this is fresher in my mind).
Sam and Duncan feel more real to many than some parents whom I've read in fantasy stories like this. They're not perfect. They're not perfect parents either, and that realization becomes part of the story of rescuing, Penny their daughter.
BTW I really enjoyed Penny's time in this volume. Much more than I expected for a story that begins as two parents trying to save their daughter locked in a coma/dream/fantasy world.
With their backs against the wall, Duncan and Sam turn to unlikely allies to combat the beings that haunt their daughter. Trauma from their past hunts them, and a harrowing moon hangs high over their quest.
Damn it am I gonna cry every time something happens to dads in media now!? Ugh! The other golden Cascade that haunts him made my skin crawl, and him facing his demons is a lesson to those who never open up to those they should trust. You shouldn't have to carry your burden alone, but like he said, the admission of its existence makes it real.
Is it hokey/cheesy to have a happier ending than expected? Where people are saved? Sure. But it can work. I love a "magical girl" fights back evil bit in comics/manga. I do feel there was a bit more to mine from the Duncan plot, but it'll do. My heart just breaks for the man. Penny finally got to be a little more of a character at the end here. DWJ seems to always tap into that emotional devastation of parents and kids, and that really works if you identify with it.
Moon was another excellent offering from DWJ and co, even if I have nitpicks with plot elements (they wrapped up the Sam Cascade dynamic rather quick). One of these days, DWJ won't write something that'll tug at your heartstrings, but I don't know if it'll be the same.
This was so awesome. I really enjoy when writers get to do their own stuff, this is so much better then all the transformer volumes he has written. I have read at least three volumes and they dont even compare.
The art is creative and amazing (❤️ the Pennycorn) the writing was splendid. There was even a little homage to ‘do a powerbomb’.