Demo

Imagine that you are a teenager with a supernatural ability or affliction but no guidance on how to handle it; if you're lucky, you have some control over it. Meanwhile, there's pressure to conform, make ends meet, and do right by your family and those close to you. The protagonists of Demo (different ones in each of the 18 issues collected here) wrestle with all that, and even when or whether they succeed, they are fortunate to survive, let alone prevail. Writer Wood (DMZ) imbues the material with a gravitas and psychological realism reminiscent of Alan Moore's best work, and artist Cloonan (Gotham Academy) pulls off the masterstroke of varying the drawing style of the stark, detailed black-and-white art for each issue, making the collection one-of-a-kind in yet another way. Verdict In the wrong hands, Demo could have been naïve or nihilist. Instead, it's a near masterpiece, with grit and compassion to spare. Violence, profanity, and occasional gore; suitable for teens and up. Highly recommended for readers of popular fiction and graphic novels alike.-J. Osicki, Saint John Free P.L., NB © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.