Finders Keepers: The Horizon Experiment #1

Daring Rescues in The Horizon Experiment: Unveiling Cultural Theft

Vita Ayala has revolutionized storytelling in "The Horizon Experiment: Finders Keepers #1." Here, we meet Ines, the Afro-Puerto Rican hero who gives sacred artifacts back to their true owners. Collaborating with artist Skylar Patridge and colorist Jason Wordie, this dynamic team crafts a visually captivating and deeply immersive adventure. It’s a fresh narrative that flips the script on the classic heroic archetype popularized by characters like Indiana Jones. Ayala infuses the tale with the thrilling essence of justice and restitution.

A New Chapter Begins

Ines has achieved a milestone, securing a place at Brown University. Her abuela’s pride is complicated, though. Everything surrounding her university life is multifaceted, reflecting the complexity of her journey. Ines dives into a museum internship that houses EL Corazon, an ancient wood and obsidian artifact. This item holds sacred worth for the original creators, misplaced in history’s vaults. Now, its true custodians yearn for its return. Ines is ready to help them "reacquire" the prized relic from the museum’s possession.

Ayala employs innovative techniques to enhance the story’s depth. A page from Ines’ journal brimming with application notes transports readers into her undergraduate world. The artifact’s acquisition vividly unfolds like a map, chronicled through a second-person narrative. This unique approach thrusts readers into Ines’ shoes during pivotal moments. Ayala deftly crafts a melodrama that penetrates the heart of cultural restitution.

Visual Storytelling at Its Best

Skylar Patridge excels in illustrating Ines’ text-driven world, captured in a realism that resonates today. The narrative’s dynamics manifest in engaging, artistically framed action scenes and intriguing conversations. Protests mask the museum’s exterior, offering fertile ground for bolder, intense illustrations. Yet, the emotional core driving these dramatic sequences emerges powerfully on every page.

It’s an enticing thought to see Ines’ journey evolve into a full-length series, expanding the scope of her artifact-rescuing quests. Ayala’s ability to weave a narrative that blends text and visuals invigorates the comic format beautifully. Ines’ charisma leaps off the page, begging adaptation into broader platforms such as TV, film, and video games. Her story is undeniably compelling.

Grade: A