I’m a sucker for scenes, short films, or even whole episodes or movies that are shot in a single, continuous take. So, of course, when I heard there was a comic that was done in a single, continuous take, I was intrigued.

“But comics are hundreds of panels across dozens of pages!” you say, briefly forgetting that I can’t hear you through your computer or phone screen. “How can it be done in a single, continuous take?” The Yuan twins have figured out a way.

First of all, there are no panels. Each page has a single image, some of which extends to the page opposite it, and some of which merely blends seamlessly with the next image. The pages are also folded accordion-style. You can, if you want to, unfold them to see the whole story in what is, essentially, a single, unbroken take.

I unfolded the first few, but I’ll admit I’m reluctant to do the whole thing, because I don’t know if I’d be able to get them back together without tearing something. Not that I don’t trust the comic, which seems sturdy enough. Just that I don’t trust myself. Still, the effect is really cool. And you can also read it a page at a time, like a regular comic book, and still follow the story just fine.

So, what of the story? This is a classic noir tale, done in black and white (with a few red accents thrown in for good measure). The comic is one scene in one location, and it plays just like a noir short film, with twists and secrets unfolding through gruff, snappy dialogue.

Love Town is a place of greed, crime, and a little bit of magic if you’re fool enough to mess with it. It’s in this shadowy setting that Police Captain Hiram Moore and his subordinate, Connelly, find themselves in a seedy, one-bedroom apartment, investigating the murder of a bookie. But all is not as it seems, and we get the distinct impression that there may be more murder to come before the night is through.

If you’re not familiar with the Yuan twins, you may know them as “Those twins who were in an episode of two of that show I like.” They’ve shown up in Arrested Development, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, It’s Always Sunny, Agents of SHIELD, and more. They’re also talented comic book artists and friends of Fanbase Press. And with this unbelievably ambitious project, they’ve hit it out of the park.

I can only imagine how much time and effort it took to create this: placing images side by side and connecting them in a single, cohesive chain that, in its finished form, is nearly 15 feet long. I’m picturing drawing the entire thing on a roll of butcher paper, laid out on the floor. I assume they actually did it on a computer, though that doesn’t make it any less impressive of a feat. Either way, I love the concept, and it fits especially well with the noir feel of the story. I’m a big noir fan, and this story delivers on all fronts.

The story is also part of a much larger world. Apparently, there’s a whole volume of Love Town already published, and though I haven’t read it yet, now I want to. I assume it doesn’t have the same conceit as this one-shot of a single, continuous take, but the world seems fascinating regardless.

Still, I’d love to see more comics done in this single-scene format. Given the sheer scope of this one, doing another like this could well take some time. But I will be waiting patiently, and, hopefully, at some point, there will be more comics like this to enjoy.

Creative Team: John Yuan (writer, artist), Matt Yuan (writer, color, digital shading), Ken F. Levin (editor)
Publisher: First Comics
Click here to purchase.
*Available for pre-order thru Diamond Comics [Diamond Previews code: AUG241745]