PopCultHQ

PopCultHQ received a review copy of CENSUS TPB from Dark Horse Comics. From ComiXology Originals & Dark Horse Books, this collected edition is available on July 16th (bookstores) & July 17th (comic book shops). The creative team for this trade paperback features writing by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman, art and colors from Sebastián Píriz, and letters by Bernardo Brice.

To get the job of a lifetime, sometimes you have to sell your soul.

Liam Malone is an aimless college slacker living in New York City who answers a job posting ad for the Census Bureau that seems to require little of him. Knock on doors, ask a few questions, move on. But what he discovers is that the doors of New York City are hiding lots of things. Dangerous things. Supernatural things. Liam’s new gig requires him to register all of the demons, djinn, and other bizarre creatures living in New York. How will Liam both keep his life and a stellar performance review?

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Take a moment to imagine being stuck in the most seemingly dull job ever. The pay may be good, but it is about as boring as it gets. Not only that, but it also now entails a certain amount of extreme danger and potentially deadly situations. Good luck quitting if that doesn’t sound like a job worth keeping. Because when you dear readers see what is in store with this trade paperback (TPB), you won’t want to leave it either. So hold on to your hats, sit down, and get ready for fun and lots of laughs to boot.

WRITING:

Marc and Adam knocked it out of Yankee Stadium with this one. The two of them had a lot of fun writing the script for this story, and it shines out in the best ways possible. The jokes don’t fall flat, even the most minor characters are interesting, and the pacing feels smooth and not rushed. A comic of this creative magnitude from these two fine minds was an unexpected and worthwhile surprise. Good going to both of these fine persons.

ART & COLORS:

Sebastián was the perfect choice to tackle the dual role of artist and colorist. Both positions require a dedicated spirit and desire to blend the visual spectrum in new and different ways. There are a lot of great examples of that blend throughout, which makes it hard to call out even just one of them. So let me put it this way: you won’t be disappointed by the hard work Sebastián puts in, not in the slightest. Major kudos are due for this achievement.

LETTERING:

Bernardo came, saw, and conquered as the letterer for CENSUS. I’ll be the first to admit it: there are times in more recent reviews when I have been hard on the folks who letter comics. In light of that fact, Census swung my opinion around. At first, it seems as though Brice phones it in and then slowly but surely throws some curveballs that will show why the lettering can make a comic pop as much as the script and artwork. If you don’t believe me, wait until you get to page 77, and you’ll see what I mean.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT:

Sometimes, desperation leads a person to pursue a job they have no experience in. We have all been there, which can lead to the most unlikely and outrageous scenarios becoming reality. That is why everyone who takes the time to read Census will see a little of themselves reflected in the main character. And like those zany jobs, readers will return to this TPB again and again. Plus, all the New Yorkers who snag a copy will enjoy the fun verbal and visual cues that pay homage to your fine city.

PopCultHQ Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

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