Prism Stalker is written and illustrated by Sloane Leong (Glory, Change, From Under Mountains). And, published by Image Comics.
Issue #1 kicks off with a young girl in what looks like a very strange atmosphere. She is reminiscing about what almost seems like a previous lifetime. She’s grasping at straws to remember a home, and even her own culture. This young girl is named Vep. As she is reminiscing the art is portraying a story all on its own.
There are strange creatures all around Vep, and organic matter that looks like the roots of a tree. The creatures look like a mix between an insect and a rainbow lobster. Vep is working, but it’s not clear on what exactly her job is as of yet. The more that Vep reminisces the more we see into her past. She was very young when she was taken away from her home. She remembers what her home was like, but I sense that she’s worried the memories may slip if she doesn’t think about her home often.
Vep talks about what led her to where she is now. Looming all around her are these creatures that are watching over her like they manage her. And, before too long it is revealed that is their actual purpose. These creatures are called Svervan’s, and they rescued Vep’s tribe from a dying planet. I am not sure if I’m using the correct term, but rescued seems to fit for now.
Vep is now an indentured servant to them. The way it works is the workers uproot eggs from the Svervans. And, in return the workers get food and a place to sleep. Vep and the others suit up for their day of work. As Vep is putting on her harness she is stopped by a Svervan that asks her if she went to the “adult chambers” again. Vep is honest and tells them she just wanted to see her family. The Svervan chews her out for doing so and tells her that her family is in quarantine. The svervan also reminds her that it would be “better for her social health” to be around people her own age.
Vep and her friend Mirem begin to work, and when Mirem attempts to harvest an egg, Vep warns her that she is off pitch. Shortly after Mirem begins to fall. With some amazing heroics that you have to see to believe, Vep saves her life. A couple of tourists and svervans witness this. As a result the tourists ask to meet with Vep alone.
I really don’t want to divulge too much, so I feel like this is a safe stopping point. I wasn’t sure on what kind of a vibe this story was going to have, but I must say I am very pleased with everything the story conveys so far. You’ll also want to pick up this issue to see why the tourist wanted to speak with Vep alone. I should stress that it’s made known in the story that tourists typically don’t want to see this part of egg harvesting. Also, that the Svervan rarely call out a person to speak with them alone, so for a tourist to do so it’s a really big deal. You’ll have to pick up this issue to see how amazing Vep is. She’s stubborn in the right ways, strong, and an independent thinker. Vep really has the makings of becoming a hero.
I feel like the Svervan are doing everything in their power to distance Vep from her family because they want individualism to die. I believe they want these workers to only care about uprooting their eggs. I truly feel like they want the culture from Vep’s tribe to die and that’s why they have her parents quarantined.
Prism Stalker makes me feel like I need to stand with Vep and rescue her people. I’m so angry to see everything Vep has gone through up to this point. I hope this tale ends with Vep feeling empowered enough to liberate her relatives from quarantine and overthrow the Svervan.
Rating: 9/10
