The big hug of hope that is EVE

A review of Eve #1 from Boom Studios and an advanced review of Eve #2, out in stores June 9th from Boom Studios!

Major spoilers for issue #1, but NO SPOILERS for issue #2!

Nerds, dorks, and geeks alike, we have another dystopian world story on our hands!

Is this surprising at all? No!

Is it the most original idea ever? No!

But- but- is it worth picking up?

Let me hear you say it, friends-

YES, YES IT IS!

Eve is a story from Boom Studios, a publisher that specializes in gorgeously designed stories that can typically reach both younger and older audiences. You can tell from the cover alone that this is aimed at young audiences, but what’s inside is what truly makes older audiences connect too. But come on, older or younger, how could you NOT love this cover?

Issue 1 of Eve does what a first issue should- it exposes us to the world we are reading into

and gives us the necessary backstory for us to empathize with the main character, Eve! Eve is a young girl who lives with her father, whom we see pretend to eat dinner together in different parts of the world, through fake backgrounds. However, we see that they are in a completely different environment, something akin to a submarine. As they finish up eating and begin walking together, her dad tells her that he wishes they had more time, but she has to open this capsule-looking object herself. Next thing we know, we see her seemingly cryogenically frozen and left alone, except for a teddy bear in the room.

Eve wakes up, assumingly after a significant amount of time, falls out of her containment, and starts throwing up while having the teddy bear tell her she’s too old for that. Yes, the bear talks! However, it really isn’t a bear- apparently, it is an android disguised as a teddy bear to help Eve be less startled.

I LOVE having Bear Android talk and not just be a comedic as*hole like, say, Ted is in the Ted movies. No hate on Ted, but it’s nice to see a talking bear (android) be slightly more serious and kind? Either way, I enjoy it. When I first was deciding whether to give this series a try or not, I was REALLY hoping the bear talked, and instead, I got a talking bear android! I’ll take it!

Bear Android gets Eve, who we learn officially is 11 years old here, some food. Bear Android

takes her back to her room, has her change her clothes, etc, assumingly just having her adjust to being awake and conscious again. Eve begins asking questions, like how long she was in the containment, and Bear Android says they can’t answer those questions, for fear of overwhelming Eve. That doesn’t last long though, because Eve quickly finds out that the world has been underwater for years. The Earth is dying and Eve and Bear Android need to help it grow again.

Shortly after this discussion, we see Eve climb out of where she’s been this whole time and Bear Android tells her that the city she is looking at used to be Manhattan, and the issue ends with Eve saying that if she gives up, she won’t survive- so let’s go! Not gonna lie, got hella “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor vibes here!

The climate and environmental perspectives in this dystopian world are fresh for me. Most often, we see dystopias focus on social norms and general human survival- rarely do we ever see them also focus on what happens to the Earth in a dystopian world perpetrated by humans. I also love that we are seeing it through the lens of a child. Eve’s innocence and true desire to just help, without any alternate intentions, makes this a story I want to keep reading. It makes me truly believe in Eve’s desire to save the world (and not just the humans on it).

If you’re someone who wants to see more of the big picture and wants to see what the adults might be up to, then you have to stick around for issue 2! In issue 2, we start to see why her dad put her in that containment for a period of time and why Eve herself is so important. We see where Eve and Bear Android must begin their journey and possibly where her dad is- or was?

The pacing of this series as a whole is fantastic. Again, I absolutely love following Eve directly the majority of the time, and I love how the creators take the time to show her reactions and thoughts to what she’s experiencing, without dwelling too much. The story is easy to follow but not too predictable, both in issue 1 and issue 2.

In addition to the great pacing, characterization, and storytelling, the art in Eve is like a big hug. It’s relaxing and beautiful to look at, finding the perfect balance between the rigidity of this dystopia and the softness of Eve’s heart.

Overall Consensus

I think it’s telling that the creators chose to name this girl Eve- in the biblical sense, Eve is the mother of all human life, which you could arguably extend to the Earth itself in many ways. In this story, Eve definitely is no mother, but she is the key. She’s the key to it all. But what is all, and how is she the key specifically? I highly suggest you not only pick up issues 1 and 2 of Eve to find out but also add Eve to your pull list! For how much Eve will pull on your heartstrings, this series belongs on your pull. I am excited to see how this series continues to expand its world, find more ways to soften my cold, dark heart up, and bring hope to each and every one of us that reads it!

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