Paranoid Gardens is co-written by Gerard Way who wrote The Umbrella Academy. That alone tells you most of what you need to know and whether you’ll want to read it. That’s hardly a review, though, so I’ll elaborate.

Loo (short for Louise) is a young woman working at Paradise Gardens, an assisted living facility. Most of the residents (and the staff) look like regular humans, while a few look like grotesque monsters of all different shapes and colors. Humans and monsters alike all live and work freely together, and no one seems to think it’s odd, though, so far, there’s been no explanation as to why.

Loo is great at her job, and the residents and most of her coworkers love her, but she has no memory of who she was or what her life was like before coming to work at the Gardens four months ago. Some of the higher-ups aren’t fond of her, though, especially when she goes against the established traditions of the institution. Some of them may also be covering up some dark and disturbing secrets about the Gardens, about Loo, and about who knows what else.

Earlier I said that knowing that this is by the writer of The Umbrella Academy tells you everything you need to know. That’s a bit of an oversimplification. It’s true that they share similar vibes and that if you’re a fan of the former, you’ll probably enjoy this one, as well. Even so, Paranoid Gardens is very much its own thing.

The world created here is vivid and colorful, equal parts captivating and grotesque. That’s due as much to writers Way and Shaun Simon as it is to artist Chris Weston and colorist Dave Stewart. Together, they bring to life all the comic’s strange characters, from a crazed superhero to a cult of Mickey Mouse-esque monkeys to the residents of the Gardens who, even though they’re monstrous in appearance, still manage to come off as ordinary and unassuming in their demeanor.

This comic isn’t for everyone. It can be at times uncomfortable, at times difficult to understand, and at times just plain bizarre. But if that is your cup of tea (as it is mine), then Paranoid Gardens is a wild and exciting journey—one that I’m very much looking forward to continuing.

Creative Team: Gerard Way and Shaun Simon (story), Chris Weston (art, Cover A), Dave Stewart (colors), Nate Piekos of Blambot® (letters), Motohiro (Cover B)
Publisher: Dark Horse
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