You Need to Read: Morning Glories

It’s no secret that Image has tons of great comics under its belt. Saga, Deadly Class, Rat Queens, Nailbiter, you name it. However, I have an important question I need to ask you all. ARE YOU READING MORNING GLORIES THOUGH?? Morning Glories is a comic book series created by Nick Spencer and Joe Eisma. It is published by Image Comics and the creators have described the series as the Runaways meets Lost. But it's so much more than that. Personally I’d add that it also has a tinge of Danganronpa.  Alex Sollazzo and Johnny Lowe are also some artists that help with interior art and cover art for several issues. Unfortunately, this is a series that’s extremely hard to talk about without spoiling so I’ll only be scratching the surface.

Morning Glories primarily focuses on a group of six teenagers who are invited to the prestigious Morning Glory Academy (MGA). A seemingly normal school for elite students but ... it's truly a horribly dangerous place that physically and psychologically tortures its students. It's not entirely clear why yet but probably in the pursuit of the supernatural and the occult. It does a great job focusing on multiple characters and their individual stories. Each character, even those apart from the main six have deep, detailed backstories that help flesh out their respective characters. The creators really make you care about the well-being of these characters, even the ones designed to be ‘unlikable’ (IKE). The characters have lots of depth and is easily one of the more impressive parts about this comic book.

Morning Glories does a phenomenal job creating suspense and mystery. It also ends with a cliffhanger each issue, making you just hunger for more. By the end of every issue something completely unprecedented happens. EVERY ISSUE. The focal point of the series is keeping the reader shrouded in mystery which is a good thing but something the series struggles with. As the reader progresses, the only thing they receive is more questions and no answers. The plot becomes extremely convoluted and is hard to follow. Moreover, the story jumps around from person to person, past, present and future. It can definitely seem a bit disorganized at times. Luckily, to combat this, at the end of every issue the creators take the time to discuss and explain what happened within the issue. It really helps so I suggest you take the time to read it.

Let’s talk about the artwork. I often hear some people criticize it but how about, you’re wrong and the artwork is great. Eisma’s art is clean and more importantly, distinct. It’s a style I’d recognize no matter where I come across it and that’s important. The characters are well proportioned, easy to tell apart and the action scenes are well drawn out. The close up panels of characters experiencing deep emotions are some of the best panels to see because you can see how they feel clearly. Lastly the characters are really good looking and that’s important in its own right.

  

The Morning Glories experience is a part of the fun of being a fan of the series. Going on the forum and discussing theories and even talking to the creators on Twitter. Spencer and Eisma tend to pay attention on Twitter to those talking about the series and will actually reply to you if you tweet at them. Talking to other fans about the mysteries in the narrative is a treat.

I plan on doing a lot more in depth write ups on Morning Glories but for now, that’s all I’m going to say. Give it a shot, (it’s about 49 issues in) because this series has great characters you’ll care about, unique art, a dope ass story and a compelling mystery. As of right now Morning Glories is personally my favorite comic book series, ever. I have complete faith that the various mysteries will be worth all the stress in the end. Definitely go and pick up a volume or nine and become a Morning Glories fan. I have great taste, listen to me.

Written by: Nya Hemmingz

Follow me on Twitter: @LolitaZenpie