Spotlight on Graphic Novels: Manifest Destiny Vol. 1
Manifest Destiny (available on ComiXology) follows the adventures of Lewis and Clark as they traverse the unknown western regions of North America. Unlike the journey we’re told they took, this highly fictionalized version features buffalo-men, zombies, and, of course, Sacagawea. This was a fun read, though not always a smooth story.
The story starts off with an exploration of land on the west side of the Mississippi. The crew has been sent with the limited knowledge that monsters may lie west of the river. They’re past the point of help or turning back.
They are attacked by buffalo headed, human torso-ed creatures.
Then, in an attempt to escape, they’re chased into an abandoned outpost. Things there, however, are anything but safe.
The novel features some great art and creative monsters.
The men are consistently led astray be Lewis and Clark. Clark is convinced that he is strong and brave enough to take on the unknown, and his pride won’t let him return to safety. Lewis is compulsive about seeking knowledge of the new life forms. Though Lewis is afraid, he wants to further the biological sciences.
The characters were interesting. However, the plot seemed to jump around without much regard for how it was foreshadowed or how the events were building.
On the plus side, there’s a fun Little Shop of Horrors feel to the first volume that I thought was very well done.
Admittedly, I read the first 97 pages and then let it sit for two weeks. That doesn’t speak much to the story being particularly engaging. It often seemed to alternate between random plot points and subplots that dragged. Overall, I’d rate it a three. There’s a lot of room to build, but also a lot of promise.
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