Earnest goes to campy.

Listen up kiddos, cause have I got a sweet deal for you! It’s an entirely original, unorthodox, never before seen plot that is one hundred percent cliché! Now, some people might think that a story set in a fantasy world, involving an ultimate evil bringing about an apocalypse would be old-hat enough to be a hit by itself. Still, others might say, “Throw in a chosen one who is the only one who can save them! Then you can have the chosen one be of noble lineage, but know nothing about their abilities or heritage.” Still, others might shout about a coalition of wizardy-people, headed up by a white haired, bearded, old guy in blue robes. Some might even suggest that the chosen one actually live in this modern world and be taken across to the mystical world which she is supposed to save along with some friends. Then, she and all her friends can soon after find out that they all have unique talents, personalities, and ethnicities. Now, most people would stop the fun bus there and be happy with their more-than-predictable story, but not the folks that made Other World. They wanted more than your average averageness and an unprecedented amount of campy clichés. They had said friends be members and groupies of a band. Well, not all of them really, but they did throw in a love triangle and a bitter, loudmouth guy that will probably betray them all.

Still, while the story is filled with the common stuff of everyday fantasy, it also has some uniqueness to it. First of all, the main girl’s name is Siobhan. That’s not a name you hear every day. Next, though the artwork is sketchy, it contains some very cool scenes. The Mage Wall (which is eating up the mystical world) is pretty cool, as is the giant cyborg thing that rampages in front of it. Also, the techno city behind the wall is just amazing. As well, the team of friends that is chosen to go to the Other World includes a middle aged lady and a girl, who seems to have a bad burn across her face. These are also things that are not normally seen in this genre.

So before you think that Josi and the Pussy Cats are back in action, let me just say this: while it is true that there is a lot of expected clichés in this comic, there is also a lot that is new and different. The dialogue is actually very good, and I am very interested to learn more about the strange enemy that is engulfing the Other World. My final verdict is that it is too soon to make a final verdict. So don’t give up on Other World just yet, but don’t get your hopes up either.

-Fumanchu