Trillium is the new Vertigo sci-fi tale from creator extraordinaire Jeff Lemire. It finds dual protagonists from vastly polarised points in earth’s history finding common ground in a specific join connecting time with place.
The first issue opens well via an ominous video playback, which establishes a curious and desperate situation related to the fate of the universe! Our 3797 protagonist is Nika, a botanist in the spirit of the Avatar-esque, exploratory, non-military type. Her 1921 flipside is William Pike, a traumatised World War 1 veteran on an ill-fated expedition for riches in the jungles of South America. Both reek of desperation for different reasons, with Pike stumbling across his fate by chance, while Nika’s mission is one of greater purpose.
While the parallel stories converge geographically, Pike's 1921 explores themes of greed and hubris while the earlier 3797 portion intonates the ignorance and dire result of such human based folly. The future tale seemingly becomes an attempt to remedy past mistakes at an unexpected mid-point, which connects to the Trillium resource of the title, a flower with powerful properties and unobtanium-like value.
As sole creator, Lemire is in total control and both the visuals and the written story merge seamlessly. The future heroine’s journal logs serve to fill in the back story really well, as her search for the Trillium allows her to express her fears and concerns about an impending extinction level alien threat to mankind. The 1921 soldier’s state of mind is expressed through his past on the battlefield, with the violence and horror he witnessed haunting him in gruesome ghost-like recollections.
Pace wise, it takes it’s time and doesn’t resort to immediate and shocking twists or revelations, with the end seeming an inevitable beginning for the series, while also a logical end point for the issue. Both worlds and their mysterious meeting point, core characters and their motivations are all clearly established too, right before a classically balanced ellipsis sets up the second issue.
A great start, and more promising original sci-fi goodness from Vertigo!
Verdict: All Star Recommended
Luke H
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