Vescell has big ideas but a mediocre execution. There are multiple stories in this issue with each contributing very little to the overall plot development. The art also fails to have any spark and looks amateur at times. With the number of creative ideas coming from the writer, Enrique Carrion, and fun but flawed characters, the issue is average and needs more work to reach its full potential.
The Vescell company can make your wildest dreams come true – by making you into another person. The company swaps your brain into another body, giving you the perfect opportunity to start over. Think of it as the ultimate form of plastic surgery, sci-fi style. The plot revolves around former detective Maurico "Moo" Barrino, who works as an operative for Vescell and handles their high profile cases with the help of his fairy Machi, Avery who is Barrino's girlfriend, and a spirit that he wants in the flesh.
The first mistake Enrique Carrion makes happens before the story even begins. To understand the basics and the characters, you have to read the history in the spot usually reserved for "recapping" a previous comic – even though there isn't one. Instead of weaving this into the narrative, it is presented to the readers in a simple way that had no innovation, or effort, unlike the idea for the story or the characters, both of which were the best elements of the comic.The main protagonist is ironically the least interesting of the three main characters. We do not get much of a personality with him, but his just sense is subtly shown by his refusal to allow his girlfriend to be human for short periods of time, to only possess prostitutes that he paid for sex and not people he knew, which was a noble thing to do. Every other moment involving his character was never as engaging as it was with our two leading ladies.Mochi is a cute fairy with the attitude of a teenager. Vescell has an original approach to her fairy race and mentions the stereotypical fairies in other stories that Mochi manages to avoid becoming. Sometimes she can be a little too cutesy, which leads to some bad puns in her dialogue, such as when she says "OMFG" (which an asterix "humorously" tells us means "oh my fairy godmother").Avery falls into the "femme fatale" character arch and, as a spirit, adds very interesting elements to the story, including her possession of others' bodies to become flesh. But Avery's interactions with Mochi are the best, with the two fighting constantly out of their jealousy over "Moo," are very funny moments that never drag and only takes a small diversion from the story – the comic's second weakest element.The idea for Vescell is great but the execution is terrible. The comic has several stories that do not put a lot of focus on the main characters and have very little plot development. The writer also has a tendency to write several long-winded speeches that feel like sermons. One had a grotesque metaphor about a tampon that even made me, as a woman, grossed out.The art from John "Roc" Upchurch is an even bigger problem. The characters designs are fairly basic, but every background is neglected and colored with a dreary grey or brown color. The entire issue keeps this dismal shady and adds nothing to the tone of the story. The worst part of the artwork is Avery's design. She has breasts that would make Jessica Rabbit jealous. All of her proportions are unrealistic. I know she's a spirit, but you could knock someone out with those things!Vescell is another comic with a lot of promise that I was looking forward to, but fell flat on its face with grand ideas flawed with poor execution. And while moments between the characters were enjoyable and there was a flimsy connection between the stories that probably will make sense in the future, currently, not much makes sense, and nothing felt executed properly and little work seemed to go into the art and story. The only way this issue can redeem itself is if the next is great – which, with an idea like this, should be attainable.
An all-around nerdette, I’m a comic book connoisseur, horror aficionado, video game addict, anime enthusiast and an aspiring novelist/comic book writer. I am the head of the comic book department and the editor-in-chief of Entertainment Fuse. I also write and edit articles for Comic Frontline. I am also an intern at Action Lab Entertainment, a comic book publisher at which I edit comic book scripts, help work on images in solicitations and help with other comic book related project. My own personal website is comicmaven.com.
The first mistake Enrique Carrion makes happens before the story even begins. To understand the basics and the characters, you have to read the history in the spot usually reserved for "recapping" a previous comic – even though there isn't one. Instead of weaving this into the narrative, it is presented to the readers in a simple way that had no innovation, or effort, unlike the idea for the story or the characters, both of which were the best elements of the comic.
The main protagonist is ironically the least interesting of the three main characters. We do not get much of a personality with him, but his just sense is subtly shown by his refusal to allow his girlfriend to be human for short periods of time, to only possess prostitutes that he paid for sex and not people he knew, which was a noble thing to do. Every other moment involving his character was never as engaging as it was with our two leading ladies.
Mochi is a cute fairy with the attitude of a teenager. Vescell has an original approach to her fairy race and mentions the stereotypical fairies in other stories that Mochi manages to avoid becoming. Sometimes she can be a little too cutesy, which leads to some bad puns in her dialogue, such as when she says "OMFG" (which an asterix "humorously" tells us means "oh my fairy godmother").
Avery falls into the "femme fatale" character arch and, as a spirit, adds very interesting elements to the story, including her possession of others' bodies to become flesh. But Avery's interactions with Mochi are the best, with the two fighting constantly out of their jealousy over "Moo," are very funny moments that never drag and only takes a small diversion from the story – the comic's second weakest element.
The idea for Vescell is great but the execution is terrible. The comic has several stories that do not put a lot of focus on the main characters and have very little plot development. The writer also has a tendency to write several long-winded speeches that feel like sermons. One had a grotesque metaphor about a tampon that even made me, as a woman, grossed out.
The art from John "Roc" Upchurch is an even bigger problem. The characters designs are fairly basic, but every background is neglected and colored with a dreary grey or brown color. The entire issue keeps this dismal shady and adds nothing to the tone of the story. The worst part of the artwork is Avery's design. She has breasts that would make Jessica Rabbit jealous. All of her proportions are unrealistic. I know she's a spirit, but you could knock someone out with those things!
Vescell is another comic with a lot of promise that I was looking forward to, but fell flat on its face with grand ideas flawed with poor execution. And while moments between the characters were enjoyable and there was a flimsy connection between the stories that probably will make sense in the future, currently, not much makes sense, and nothing felt executed properly and little work seemed to go into the art and story. The only way this issue can redeem itself is if the next is great – which, with an idea like this, should be attainable. 
