Being a kid comes with all sorts of perks that many lose as they enter adulthood. One of those is the ability to conjure all sorts of magical and exciting scenarios and stories in your head and just simply believe in it. Imagination is a fertile ground in which we build hopes, dreams, and morals. At some point or another everyone has imagined that they were a proud or noble knight on a quest to slay a dragon or some other hero of greatness. It goes without saying that Jeremy Whitely beautifully captures this nostalgic feeling of childhood dreams in a story that could remind you of something you played as a child.
Rainbow Brite was a children’s show in the 80’s and most likely half of you reading this may not have even heard of it, myself included. The first issue of this brand new revamp of the series is good for both newcomers and fans of old as it introduces a brand new story. Like most comics catered to all ages, the story is quite simple but Whitely manages to throw in the feeling of nostalgia, summoning the urge to be that age again where all we knew was what adventure our young minds take us next.
In this comic, we follow the lives of Willow, who imagines herself as a wizard, and Wisp, who fashions herself as a knight. The lightheartedness of their games and the way Willow’s parents try to keep their immersion is truly heartwarming and wholesome. The two, of course, have their play time, or rather their rescue of a village that doesn’t deserve it, cut short by nightfall and rain. However, after Willow’s father drops Wisp off things begin to get weird.
Before getting ready for bed, Wisp hears noises coming from outside her house. Being the brave knight she is, she goes to investigate only to see a trio of shadow creatures stealing the color from her mother’s car. She strikes one and runs away, before meeting a flying sprite named Twinkle. He explains to her that they are servants of the King of Shadows who wants nothing more than to drain all the color from the world. Because Wisp was able to hurt one, they are hunting for her. Twinkle tries to teleport them to safety but the lack of light drains his magic. Wisp hatches a scheme to use Willow’s home security lights to give him his magic back, bringing her friend into the game. By the end of the book, Twinkle teleports the two girls to a Rainbow land that is devoid of color.
The comic was quite enjoyable to read. Even though it is for all ages, it is aimed at much younger audiences. Yet, adults will find an innocent joy in recalling their own dreams and games as children and that is where the heart of this book lies. The power to dream and imagine is one of the most important concepts of the human mind and sometimes all it takes is a child or our recollections of when we were children to truly grasp its potential. If you want a spark to awaken your inner child or reignite your love for the foundation of fantasy, then this is a comic for you. It certainly brought those wonderful memories back for me.
Rainbow Brite #1 – Dynamite Comics
