The Snail #1: Don’t Look in the Mirror

The Snail. The androgynous title does little to prepare the reader for what lies ahead. As a long-time fan of Garth Ennis, hell, I’m not sure what to make of The Snail other than it’s psychedelic madness at its best. Not only does it work, but it leaves you shaking your head and muttering to yourself, “Garth did it again!”

The Snail opens up with a classic trope of guy sees girl, and he must have said girl, because it will cure everything that is wrong with his life. Unfortunately, the girl has other plans. Now, usually there’s an ax, machete, or possibly a time-traveling old man in a car telling you how he can help “get the girl.” Not this time. This time we have snails. Yes, snails. Ennis does not wait to pull any punches, and comes out swinging from the first panel. The Snail poses the age-old question: how far would you go? How far would you go to have that promotion? How far would you go to have the person of your dreams be by your side? Surely once these wishes come true, all of life’s questions will be answered and its problems solved. Well, as we learned from Biff Tannen, maybe leave well enough alone.

As The Snail creeps along, leaving its slimy ooze, we start to see our protagonist enjoy and embrace his newfound glory. Sure, he’s draped in happiness and kept warm by a significant other, but at what cost? Our protagonist just wants a simple and rewarding life, but the universe (and snails) have different plans. Unfortunate plans that lead to carnage and bloodshed, brought to life courtesy of John McCrea and Jack Davies. 

John McCrea and Jack Davies come in like an artistic warbird, hell-bent on revenge. With a 2000 A.D. prog flavor that not only enhances the storyline but adds a gnarly, gross-you-out element. From blood splatter to the copious amounts of snail mucin, they take you on a visual ride like no other.