Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#176: Clear

Have you ever wanted to make fantasy a reality? If so, you'll get a special sci-fi kick out of Clear by Scott Synder and Francis Manpaul.

Summary

The year is 2052. The place is San Francisco. And the situation can't get any more fucked. In the alternate future, where everyone is hooked up to veils and special neurological filters you can dash across the world, the line between reality and fantasy has become nonexistent. Instead of sitting on the virtual sidelines, though, as a hardened detective, Sam Dunes chooses to see the world for what it is. A choice he may even come to regret once he finds out his ex-wife has died under mysterious circumstances. It is sending him on a one-person warpath that'll rip the entire establishment of veiled lies asunder.

Characters

Sam Dunes: Our main character, Sam is a widowed father, and veteran of the Red War that made veils in the US popular. Between that and losing his family in a car accident, Sam is a reckless, hardened, and daring man who's always looking deeper.

Despite all the tragedy in his life, Sam still tries to see the world for what it is. For him, it's better to look at the rotten bad in the world than ever to relive the good moments, especially when it reminds you of what you lost.

Kendra Mcade: Sam's ex-wife, Kendra, was the nurse who helped get Sam back up and running. While we don't get to spend much time with her, we know that Kendra is just as determined as Sam. While she did work alongside the companies that make veils, through her murder, we find her connections run far more profound and seedier than we ever expected.

Overview

It's kinda refreshing to buy a book I got physically. Hence, when I saw this pepper in the Midtown Comics store, with the ever-prominent Scott Synder (of Batman, Justice League, Dark Knights, Death Metal Fame) at the helm, I knew I had to cop.

Clear is a story that puts the "neo" in its neo-noir setting. This is my first time being introduced to Francis Manpaul's art, but I instantly crave more after just one sitting. I think his being in charge of colors and art creates a dream-like dystopian San Fran with psychedelic visuals veiled over harsh nights.

While not as apocalyptic as our own, there's a pressing familiarity to Clear that I feel is represented through the Veils. Despite only getting three issues to cook, the concept of Veils feels like a fully fleshed-out concept with lots of parallels to the real world and our character. In an age of Snapchat filters, echo chambers, search algorithms, AI, and misinformation abound, we already live through a veil of biases, being so divided that it's hard for the individual to make any real change.

Something the actions of Sam and Kendra seek to do throughout the story. His journey to find his wife's murderer sends Sam down both a trip to memory lane and a seedy underworld of corruption. Nothing is as it seems; through it, we get a fast-paced, action-packed story that keeps the tension pretty high.

Yet nothing ever seems lost as the inner monologues and distinct details collect together throughout the story to form a powerful twist and poignant ending. One that not only puts the power back into the people but leaves us on a semi-cliffhanger, wondering if we would be able to bring it to life when confronted with the truth. I guess only time will tell.

Epilogue

I can't recommend Clear enough. It's a super interesting concept that I feel is short but sweet. It's well worth the price of admission if you can find it, and I hope to get more acquainted with Scott Synder and his other work as time passes. However, with that out of the way, let's see where the spotlight will take us all next. There's plenty of stories to tell.