Get lost in the best way inside The Cabinet.

Written/Created by: David Ebeltoft; Jordan Hart
Story: David Ebeltoft
Penciler/Inker/Colorist: Chiara Raimondi
Letterer/Designer: Jordan Hart
Editor: Chris Ryall
Cover A: Chiara Raimondi & Jordan Hart
Covers B & C: Marguerite Sauvage
Art Director: Ashley Wood
Coordinator: Gregory Prout
Publisher: Image Comics

Full transparency: I’ve never read a comic book before. Some of you may be gasping or metaphorically crushing this review under your boots. Well, I’m shocked myself. However, maybe my experience will take you back to the feeling of the first comic book you ever read and the moment you realized this was the start of something special you’d stick with for a long time. 

I gotta say – I get it. This will probably sound silly, but I felt like I was watching a movie. Or at least looking at the storyboard for a movie. As someone who has exclusively read word-only books for most of my life, I felt like my brain was unlocking a new way of absorbing information. Kind of like when you walk into a friend’s house and take in that first smell that’s new but immediately becomes familiar and comforting.

While there was a lot that was new and exciting, I did hit a few roadblocks. That thing where the bubbles are all connected but also part of a conversation with some OTHER bubbles really tripped me up. I’ll be making sure I keep that in mind while I’m adjusting to this fun, new way of reading since it’s not something unique to the comic I read.

Ok, let’s do this! The Cabinet by David Ebeltoft and Jordan Hart starts with a BANG! Also, some BOOMS. 

I will admit that I felt pretty confused at first and had to keep starting over; like I was missing something in the way you do when a group of people are running and screaming and you have no idea why – so you just start running with them and hope you’ll figure out what it was about later. In fancy terms, this comic starts “en media res.” I feel like the jarring nature of that experience was intentional to help connect us to what our protagonist, Avani, is feeling… And that’s all I’m saying about that! The rest of the story helps us get acclimated to where Avani is now – continuing her quest with the help of Trent, her “muscle” who hits first and asks questions later.

There’s so much action happening simultaneously in this comic and the opposing color palettes in the different scenes made it easy to follow along with both stories at once. There is a moment of comic relief – if you happen to find it – after the most emotionally charged moment and instead of being forced it was a wonderful, small, scene. It felt like it was especially for those who were fully taking in the art of this story – almost like a reward for reading through something so devastating and earth-shattering because, again, we took off at lightning speed at the beginning of this story. 

Overall, I felt the pacing of The Cabinet was extremely effective. I had to take a moment to catch my breath and process what I was learning and experiencing and that helped me empathize with Avani and want to root for her as this story continues. There was a completeness that was present even though this comic is clearly just scratching the surface of what is to come for Avani and Trent. I can’t wait to read more!

4.5 out of 5 cabbies