I really wanted to like this graphic novel, but even after giving it a few days to settle into my brain I’m still left feeling somewhat bamboozled and underwhelmed. The premise is intriguing, but not much actual explanation is given as to what the glowing balls of light are/do and who the mysterious Ela is. Did she come from the first ball of light? Or is she an independent player, whose role is to protect humanity from the preternatural objects? Too many questions, and not nearly enough answers... ( )

Characters are very thin and under developed. The plot is thin and under developed. There is a lot of potential in part one but it goes nowhere.
Disappointed. ( )

What?

First, let's get the good out the way. I loved the artwork! One of the artists for Batman: The Animated Series did the artwork, and his work shows a wonderful balance between cartoony and mature.

Onto what the heck this story was... None of it makes sense, so don't try to understand it.

ARC 1
-"promiscuous" wife, Tito, in a small town wants to leave; cheating on husband with an abusive dude Anton; wants to have sex with every male character alive except Bundo (I'm sorry, but she just felt like a sex-kitten fantasy some writer dreamed up. Why does she feel stuck there? Is she poor? why isn't she looking for a rich dude? why is she with Anton?)
-Anton talks about his "big balls." Okay, we're back in high-school everyone *eye roll*
- 3 kids look into a magic ball of light and go blind (makes sense)
- random white-haired lady, Ela, that looks exactly like Tito shows up
- A scientist named Felix shows up. he's mysterious?
-Sherrif is a stick in the mud
- Bundo is an alcoholic still depressed about his family dying and strangely attracted to these weird balls of lights
- cool lady in a black suit talks but never does anything important

ARC 2
-Tito wants Felix; Felix does too? until Ela shows up.
- Tito's husband is okay and knows Anton is sleeping with his wife every night (so why did they have to sneak around?)
-Tito has a temper tantrum that Felix wants Ela
- Sherrif has anger issues and pins Tito to the ground like she robbed a bank
-Tito's husband gets freaked out/turned on whenever he sees Ela? I DON'T KNOW! Did they have history or something?
-Antwon slaps the fire out of Tito like the wimp-made man he is
-Also, when adults look at the ball of light they go naked, but kids only go blind? why? because fanservice.

ARC 3/4
-umm, alien-girl Ela says she gon' put a stop to the "evil" balls of light. Okay???
-Tito tells the sheriff he better have sex with her because the world might end
- antwon and Tito's husband work together to get rid of Felix
- some secret agents in Hawaiian shirts keep showing up, but they're really irrelevant
- Back to Ela, apparently she can talk now for some reason??? because before she could only communicate to the blind kids with her hands in contact
-Ela waves her hands around and the ball of light disappears.
- Apparently, Felix and she are in love
- Ela and the sheriff hook up? whyyyy? he manhandled you like dirt? I thought you wanted to leave this place!?!

SOMEBODY MAKE IT MAKE SENSE! ( )

So, I'm left feeling confused and kind of conflicted. I finished this first volume with a ton of questions, and a kind of "What did I just read?" vibe about the whole thing. Here's the skinny: the art is wonderful, the characters are charming, the storyline is where things seem to fall apart. I'm all for a slow build up, but honestly? I'm not even sure where this is headed.

If I had to guess, I'd say that Gilbert Hernandez was using this first volume as a means of introducing the "world" that's being built. The characters are fairly built up, going so far as to peek into their backstories and see why they are the way they are. I was smitten with the art style too. It seemed to fit this story just perfectly, with it's careful sense of whimsy. As far as the build up goes, that completely made sense.

It's the series of events that occur that really had me scratching my head. I fully support vague panels, and working up to something epic. Still, if I'm left wondering what on Earth (or possibly not on Earth) is even going on, it takes some of the magic away. None of my questions were answered. Nothing made sense. I admit, it all drove me a little mad.

Would I read the next volume? Probably. If only to find out what is actually happening to this village. I only wish this first volume had drawn me in a little more. ( )

Mysterious glowing spheres appear by the sea in a Mexican town. Odd strangers appear: a scientist, government agents and a beautiful woman. Some children touch a sphere and go blind. There are weird events and disappearances. ( )