Spectrum #2 by Rick Quinn & Dave Chisholm

Spectrum continues to be one of my favorite and the most exciting books on the racks, largely due to the creators’ absolute insistence on exploring and reveling in comics as a medium.

In the first image shared, Chisholm uses inset panels to guide the reader’s eyes around the page and create the illusion of time passing. The effect is further heightened by Chisholm’s color approach, which opens the door to additional thematic depth while fostering a sense of otherworldliness.

The second image makes my heart sing for an entirely different reason: The type of specificity that can only come with research and meticulous attention to detail. While not everyone will recognize these landmarks of Los Angeles’ Silverlake neighborhood, anyone reading will pick up on the specificity that allows them to connect with the work and characters more deeply.

Then, it’s splash page time, with a particularly stunning presentation. In its placement of ersatz panel borders on an endlessly reflected view, the page fosters a sense of being overwhelmed or lost, mirroring the experience of the protagonist.

Finally, my favorite, a spread. But it’s not merely a gorgeous couple pages; Quinn and Chisholm throw everything at the wall here. Dream logic, repeated figures, visual motifs from earlier in the issue and even the previous one all combine for a spread that is a joy to read and, crucially, reread.