Spunk will get you many places, wisdom gets you back.
Tyson Hesse brings us a witty, fun, and truly entertaining read in his new series, Diesel. I had such a fun time reading this book; I was laughing out loud and had a smile on my face the entire time. A wise-ass young lady on the eve of her 18th birthday cavorts around the airship her father left her and leaves the crew in fits, especially the captain. Having no discernible skills, her greatest asset seems to be being a living stress test for every system and patience level on board, and I love every panel.
This book reminds me so much of Skottie Young; from the art style to the quick wit and memorable characters, this book gives me much the same joy as when I crack open one of his works. Tyson has a wonderful sense of timing and rhythm; every snarky joke line lands with incredible precision and makes me love our title character. Let me say this: I can’t stand her. She seems the kind of person that would annoy me at every turn and seems to do the same to just about every character in the world; however, the writing is so good that I find myself rooting for her to find any redeeming quality, because, in spite of myself, I can’t help but being drawn into her multiple social dysfunctions. That’s how good Hesse is; he can take the kind of character that would drive anyone insane and turn them into an interesting protagonist that you will root for anyway. (He also gives us Steen Dillard, who you all will love. He’s what you’d get if Yoda worked at a gas station. Odd to picture, but I promise – very, very cool.)
The art style seems like Americanized anime, with emotion and intent highlighted by morphing faces, styles, and actions to enhance and convey the sensibilities of what’s going on at any moment. The inherent fun of it all is highly addictive, and I went back through the issue again without reading the text and found it just as clear and enjoyable. Every moment is well thought out and composed so well. It’s the mark of a truly gifted visual storyteller.
I had a blast with this book and think it’s a perfect title for BOOM! Studios. Quick-witted, with an Invader Zim feel, and with anime-styled eye candy, this is a book for anyone who enjoys sharp and fast comedy with airships.
Share the stories that move you.
