For Goodness’ Sake is created, written, illustrated, and published by amazing creator K. Lynn Smith (Plume, Hope).
Ever since I got to talk to K. Lynn Smith and Dirk Manning about their comic series, Hope, I immediately began anxiously awaiting more content (Hope is amazing and I highly recommend it), so when Smith announced this Kickstarter I jumped at the chance to back it. Of course, with COVID-19, there were necessary shipping delays, but when For Goodness’ Sake arrived on my doorstep, I couldn’t have been more eager to tear open the box (after wiping it and washing my hands) and read.
For Goodness’ Sake is about, as Smith herself puts it, “Thatcher is on a journey of self-destruction after he finds himself cursed, turning more and more demonic as the days go by. He soon runs into the free-spirited Rayne, who believes there might be a way to cure him. Together, they travel the country, working to unravel his predicament, while trying to survive each other.”
Personally, everything about the plot had me interested. I like demons, I like adventures, I like characters I can find ways to identify with, and seriously, take one look at K. Lynn Smith’s promo/cover art and tell me you aren’t intrigued. Maybe I’m biased because I absolutely LOVED Plume, but she’s an incredibly talented individual who is equally great at writing as she is drawing. I don’t know what exactly it is, but her style is distinct and stands out against a lot of other comics, especially superheroes but even the more cartoon-y ones. It’s very vibrant and has a cartoonish element, but it’s also very sharp with layers and texture.
She’s great with character development and pacing. Throughout the whole volume, Rayne tries to get Thatcher to tell her how he became a demon and he just makes up a different story every time, and it’s hilarious. While we begin to see his flashbacks, he’s clearly not the type who, despite growing more accustom to Rayne’s friendship, would open up about this sensitive of a topic. As much as I want to know the whole story and for him to tell her, I also think it would have been cheesy had he blurted it out just because she told him her own story.
Of course, the most unfortunate part of this first volume is that it ends on a cliffhanger and now we have to wait to see what happens. I need this next volume asap and when you read this first one, you’ll understand and join the rest of us in the boat of waiting.
OVERALL SCORE: 9.5 / 10
You can get a copy of volume 1, issue #1, and other merchandise of For Goodness’ Sake from K. Lynn Smith’s personal online shop.
