Nomen Omen #12 // Review
Becky’s getting her life back together...or maybe it’s just getting put back together for her. The realm of the fairies is over the East River, and everything’s gone all weird and confusing in the twelfth issue of Nomen Omen. Writer Marco B. Bucci continues a dreamy fugue of a story that weaves together familiar elements into something appealingly interesting. Artist Jacopo B. Camagni blends the fantastic with the realistic in a way that feels both beautiful and unnatural. The story has reached a strange crossroads as the narrative darts into a direction far more surreal than it’s been in the past.
It’s known as Arcadia. It’s the realm of the fairies. Recent events have caused it to arrive in New York. The fairy realm in question isn’t the kind you’d necessarily want to clap for in a darkened theatre during Peter Pan. The realm that has been tethered to the Brooklyn Bridge...the landmass hovering over the East River is a very, very dangerous place. Becky Kumar is going to make it there, but only after an intervention by a consortium of magical archetypes. Similar forces bring to life an ancient god that Becky has been clashing with. Things are about to get worse for her.
Bucci’s narrative has been wavering in and out of a solidly engaging momentum. Here the story reaches a fusion between fantasy and reality that draws his protagonist Becky into a danger that feels distinct and well-defined. Becky’s resurrection has a bit of visceral punch to it. The full interaction between the fairy world and the realm of Manhattan isn’t really focussed-on enough to make it feel as vivid as it could. Still, there is an appealing contrast between Becky, her nemesis, and all of the orbiting elements.
Once again, Camagni blends vivid realms of magical color with the faded black and white realm of everyday humans. The contrast between color and white void is palpable, whether it be the glowing green of magic embracing Becky, the blood of a god, or the glowing gold chains tethering Arcadia over the East River. It’s all quite beautiful, even when it’s kind of overwhelming and horrifying. Camagni is doing a really solid job of creating a very unique visual for fantasy that seems appealingly reminiscent of the work of master fantasy artist Charles Vess. The dreamlike world Bucci is creating is in good hands with Camagni.
The dreamy dangers and passions that Bucci and Camagni develop on the page bob and weave through various energies. This issue seems to be well-paced with just the right mix of fantasy and reality. The motion and emotion glide over the narrative with an appealing execution. It’s not hard to desire something a bit more lucid between. Bucci and Camagni after an issue like #12, but it just wouldn’t be the same with a more traditional visual style and plot structure. Bucci and Camagni continue to draw the reader along into deeper realms of dream.
