Book 8: The Surrogates

The Surrogates
Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele

When Second Life first became a large presence, there was a lot of discussion about online avatars and the perils of living your life through, well, a surrogate self. This idea is brought to the world of the real in The Surrogates, a quick sci-fi/mystery hybrid that takes place in a world where the real has been mostly exchanged for a life lived by surrogates, virtually controlled bodies that have radically altered human interaction in the mid 2000s. Venditti successfully intersperses the plot of The Surrogates with subplots and additions that examine some effects the widespread use of surrogates has had on the population of Central Georgia Metropolis, and it is no coincidence that a renegade group of religiously-fueled anti-surrogate humans plays a central role in the development of the graphic novel. The plot can wear a bit thin at times, with its big reveal not-too surprising and its conclusion full of expected thematic ambiguity, but The Surrogates is nonetheless compelling throughout. The story itself and the science that drives it are a compelling and well-thought-out extrapolation of the central premise of surrogacy. Accompanying the story is the artwork of Brett Weldele, extremely compelling in its harried, unfinished pencil-based lines and uneven coloring. Weldele has a particular visual style that relies on monochromatic scenes, themes, and spreads that help tie the novel together thematically and enhance the reading experience. The Surrogates creates a relevant and realistic future world as its artwork embellishes its noir-ish feel and is, all told, a satisfying graphic novel.

Grade: A