Review: Mindset #1

Some thoughts on this new series from Vault Comics

This week from Vault Comics - Mindset #1 is the beginning of a new series which features some very interesting ideas.

When an introverted tech geek accidentally discovers mind control, he and his friends do something unexpected - they put the science into an app to help users break their technology addiction. But as their Mindset app achieves a dangerous cult following, lies, conspiracies, and murder come to light. Are they helping people or controlling them?

Writer: Zack Kaplan Artist: John J. Pearson Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou Designer: Tim Designer Cover A: John J. Pearson Cover B: Martin Simmonds

I’ve read some very interesting comics using the app theme. What I like about this is that the Mindset app almost seems to be an anti-app. They want no data mining, personalised ads and no pushing you into buying. In fact, why would you want to create this app at all?

Nevertheless, this is a good build-up to this first issue. Beginning with the end, the violence and the outcomes of this silicon valley new technology. From there, we begin looking at the history, and the beginnings of why we got to where we are. There are some interesting character moments, and I especially like the pitching of the app to professional investors. Their points are all valid, but not what the creators want.

This all links nicely with the personal life and the character of the Mindset creator - which hubris leads us nicely into the discovery of the storyline.

This was a deep and enjoyable read, with some great tech and ideas in it. The pacing of the story is well done, and may seem a little chaotic as you read it, but that links in well with the story and the mindset(!) of the characters.

The art is interesting, there are more double-page spreads than I expected, but that made reading it highly entertaining. I especially like some of the more psychedelic aspects of the art, and these work really well.

This was an excellent beginning and had some interesting futurist aspects to it. I’m intrigued to see where this leads and how quickly this will all go downhill!