The Tin Can Society #1 is written by Peter Warren and published by Image Comics. Artwork is by Francesco Mobili and colours by Chris Chuckry.
The Tin Can Society #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Johnny Moore is a world-famous tech mogul known as much for his work pioneering mobility aids for people with disabilities (like himself) as he is for moonlighting as the metal-suited vigilante, CALIBURN. But when Johnny is found murdered and his suit stolen, his estranged childhood best friends reunite to solve the mystery of his murder.
Review
Throughout the years, Image Comics have gained a reputation for bold, character driven stories with dark and cerebral themes. It’s this very identity that makes their work endlessly engaging, and The Tin Can Society is no exception. This series mixes character drama, childhood nostalgia and the consequences of fame all under the guise of a detective style murder mystery. It’s a lot of elements at play, but this confident start proves that it can be done successfully.
The first issue cuts straight to point with Johnny’s corpse taking up the opening page. To open your comic with such an arresting image is a bold move and it immediately grabs your attention. The art style strikes a fine balance between grounded moments with muted palettes and energetic scenarios that burst with vibrancy. Mobili’s artwork and Chuckry’s colouring work wonders throughout this first issue as they perfectly understand this mixing of styles. Flashbacks and action sequences pop with bright colours whereas anything following the investigation is drowned in greys and dark browns. This also helps readers differentiate the shifting tones of what is set in the past and present.
Though this is a story about childhood friends reuniting, Peter Warren keeps the narrative fixed on Kasia’s point of view. We get introduced to the older versions of Adam, Greg and Val, over the course of the issue but the story never veers from Kasia’s perspective. In an almost film noir approach, Kasia’s narration throughout the comic is what gives the story and characters added depth. As she tracks down her old friends we get drip fed information that is important to understanding the relationships of these characters but also to help piece together parts of the central mystery for ourselves.
Warren also perfectly conveys the themes of ableism and disability whilst never losing sight of the main story. Due to Johnny’s disabilities, a lot of the sympathy towards his character is drawn out from the flashbacks. There is a strong connection and understanding between the core friend group, they laugh together yet look out for each other when needed. It never goes too far into romanticising the nostalgia of childhood and maintains a sense of realism throughout. These flashbacks also make the eventual reunions of their older selves just that more dramatic and emotionally impactful.
The Tin Can Society wears its heart on its sleeve and keeps its characters at the forefront of its emotional core. It clearly conveys how people change over time and the pain that comes with losing a friend. It also shows how these four friends have to navigate the legacy Johnny left behind in the public eye. Nowhere is this better represented then at Johnny’s funeral. The four remaining friends mourn his death as they stand over his coffin in the pouring rain, which even Kasia herself notes as a cliché. This sombre moment is then juxtaposed by the sheer amount of fans that also showed up to the funeral. Not to mention the fact that CALIBURN merch is being sold to these fans like it were a football match.
From the final few pages, there is enough intrigue and suspicion to keep you as a reader wanting more. This first issue has set up everything it needs to so it can take the story in any direction it sees fit. It’s also left plenty of room for Warren to really test the character dynamics over the course of the series.
Verdict
The Tin Can Society #1 manages to blend heartfelt drama with a compelling murder mystery in a fairly unique way. Its emotional depth and intrigue shows a lot of promise and is something that will only grow with future issues.
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