By Benita Story
Finder Talisman by Carla Speed McNeil
One of the graphic novels I picked up at Wizard World Chicago was Finder Talisman by Carla Speed McNeil. This graphic novel consists of Finder issues number 19 through 21, originally published in 2000 and 2001.
Speaking with Carla was very interesting. For starters, here is someone with a lot of intense, quiet passion about the subjects of her books. When I left her table, I knew this was one creator (for she does both the stories and the art) that was worth watching, and after reading this graphic novel, one worth reading as I come across more of her books.
Finder Talisman is set in the future, how far isn’t clear, but it is a future where people can “plug” in to computers, movies, music, whatever entertainment or activity that is wanted. In a way, it’s like a pre-Matrix world where people are beginning to lose touch with the real world and are living more and more in their minds as fed by what they are hooked up to. The main character, Marcie, is a bit different from the people around her in that she has been fascinated with real, paper and binding books from a young age when she was read to by a family friend. To her, books contain magic and she finally decides that she needs to go to school (at age 7) so that she can learn to read books herself. In this world, her elders try to talk her out of it saying it in an archaic skill that is no longer needed. Luckily, Marcie is smarter than that.
While following Marcie as she grows up in this surreal-feeling world, a world with no new books, no creative originality, and no original thoughts the story begins to unfold, and those of us who cannot imagine a world without these precious things slowly become horrified at what these people have allowed their world to deteriorate to. I think one of the reasons I do not watch television is because, even at an early age (about 9) I realized I had a better imagination than the writers of these shows, and would spend the time my family spent glued to the TV writing stories, drawing, sewing, reading, etc. I did not let my imagination atrophy for lack of mental exercise, and I seriously believe that is why I have the active creative life I have today in my mid-40’s.
The black and white art in this book is very well done. It is clear, concise, evocative, easy to follow and read. Carla’s art has two levels, first the first glance art that follows the story and gives it a background. Then, there is a secondary level to the art that you must pause and look at. There are quite a few extra story elements thrown in here and there that tell an even deeper story for those willing to look. I especially enjoyed studying this deeper level.
I purposely have not been giving “star” ratings to the reviews I have been doing because it seems a little too cliché to me. I’d rather just tell you what I think and let you read the story for yourself and make up your own minds on it. I will say this, though – I will be reading more of Carla Speed McNeil’s works.
