This month, Dark Horse Comics releases the complete collection of Paranoid Gardens, a collaboration between Gerard Way (lead singer of My Chemical Romance and creator of The Umbrella Academy) and Shaun Simon (who previously worked with Way on The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys). Paranoid Gardens is a supernatural mystery thriller that takes place within a strange nursing home called Paradise Gardens. What makes this setting unique is the residential mix of humans, aliens, and supernatural beings, all hiding secrets of their own. Oh, and the home itself might actually be alive, too.
The protagonist Louise Martinez, called Loo by the patients and staff, has seemingly lived a quiet life as a nurse at Paradise Gardens until one day a new patient is admitted. When this new patient – a deranged and out-of-control superhero (a superhero whom Loo swears she has never) – recognizes her, it causes Loo to begin to question her past and current reality. Layered on top of Loo’s story is a conspiracy that threatens the sanctity of Paradise Gardens, led by a masked group of corporate agents that may or may not be based on a global corporation founded on a certain popular cartoon mouse.
Way and Simon explore how pervasive giant corporations have become in every facet of our lives and how even their seemingly benign actions can have a sinister purpose. Each member of this evil corporate cabal wears an identical mask of their cartoon corporate symbol, portraying a dark democracy in which all differences have been erased and all are equally valuable and expendable in the eyes of the corporation. Particularly poignant antagonists for America in 2025.
As Loo continues her journey to discover her past and save Paradise Gardens from corporate takeover, we come to learn more and more about the secrets of the nursing home. For every reveal and truth the readers are given, Way and Simon place another mystery in their path. This is one of those books that will stubbornly cling to your mind long after you’ve put it down. There is a complete story to be told within these pages, but the writers wisely choose to leave Paradise Gardens with most of its enigmatic nature intact.
That aura of mystique is brought to life by the art of Chris Weston. Each resident of Paradise Gardens is imbued with personality. The designs of the non-human residents somehow manage to be creepy and alien while at the same time they are relatable and approachable. I love Weston’s commitment to detail that reminds me a lot of a George Perez comic. Weston also provides the artwork for the covers of each issue that we thankfully get to enjoy in this collection. Dave Stewart’s colors allow the magic of Paradise Gardens to seep through Weston’s pencils, such as with the colorful healing waters of the community pool. There is a common motif that runs throughout the series of Loo enraptured by the flight of a butterfly. These beautiful scenes occurred at key turning points in the series that caused me to stop reading and just appreciate the artwork. Stewart also adds dramatic weight to Loo’s dreams of her past, mixing grays with swirls of color. Nate Piekos’ lettering work also added to the quirky feel of this book, with chapter breaks seeming to have been created by a label maker giving the feel that we are simply reading a patient’s chart at Paradise Gardens.
I really enjoyed this new world created by Way, Simon, and Weston. There are so many aspects of the story that I’ve been debating in my head ever since I put it down. How do the residents arrive at Paradise Gardens? Do these characters inhabit a space that exists in the real world? How do residents get chosen? I sincerely hope we get to return to Paradise Gardens. There is just too much potential in this setting to make this a one-time trip. A wonderfully engrossing mystery that will stay with readers long after the final page.
Creative Team: Gerard Way (Story), Shaun Simon (Story), Chris Weston (Art), Dave Stewart (Colors), Nate Piekos of Blambot (Letters).
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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