THE HIDDEN DOMINION OF GEORDIE JAMES

An isolated loner discovers a magical hidden gaming spot.

Anxious 12-year-old Geordie dreads being forced to talk. When his science teacher assigns the five lowest-scoring students to do their science fair project together, Geordie’s Scottish immigrant father is glad that at least he’s hanging out with other kids. Pale, red-headed Geordie ends up connecting with his classmates, who also play Dominion, an MMORPG. But as Geordie spends hours on his tablet and gets in trouble at school, his father forbids him to play Dominion anymore. Geordie sneaks out to play, discovering a fort in the woods in a spot that mysteriously has internet access. A cute pig companion appears in the game even as Geordie obsesses over a news story about a pig who escaped from a truck while being driven to the slaughterhouse. Monochromatic flashbacks show scenes of Geordie and his mother, offering insights into the cause of his present-day isolation. The online and offline storylines from Geordie’s life intersect as he brings classmate Samesh Sharma, whom he’s grown especially close to, to the woods and they start gaming together. Geordie finds more joy and takes more risks—but threats to his hideaway’s secrecy arise. This story is nuanced and complicated but easy to follow; it’s rooted in relatable emotions and experiences and unfolds through clear, accessible panels, with gorgeous shading and colorwork. The theme of interconnectivity, bolstered by careful plotting, provides comfort and catharsis.

A beautifully resonant work for the plugged-in set.