Review by Frank Plowright
Candles extrapolates a grim world under the control of a witch. The map of Cinderwood Forest provided by Lyndon White for the endpapers sets the tone, featuring names of places such as the Crypt of the Fallen, Tunnels of the Mad King and Withered Grotto.
White’s attractive art immediately registers, the startling use of colour for atmosphere catching the eye, and the delicately drawn people, although they can be posed and sometimes lack weight. Because this is a fantasy environment technology is basic, but White also draws lovely picture book villages, while the forest is utterly forbidding.
Due to the prevailing conditions magic is best kept hidden, except Ava’s too young to fully understand why, and her first response to a threat is magical, meaning she and her older companion Idris must keep moving from place to place. We also see Grace, whose father becomes infected with a curse that gradually turns people into trees.
Before we come to know the cast, White’s storytelling is confusing. While his people are nicely drawn, they’re all based on the same model, so when Ava and Idris are introduced there’s confusion over whether they’re Grace and her father when younger, and sometimes the segues between one scene and the next add to the disorientation. That’s only the case for the first third of Candles, by which time the people and their situation have been established.
The curse of transformation has held sway for generations, so can a couple of well intentioned younger people find a way to end a threat when their ancestors have all failed? The desperate situation is comprehensively enforced, to the point where readers have probably forgotten something shown early on, so it’s a surprise when it happens again, as is some messing with time. However, storytelling glitches occur throughout meaning re-reading is required to figure out what’s happened.
For a first graphic novel, Candles is one hell of an achievement, with sparkling art backed by a compelling idea, but those glitches interrupt the flow. With one graphic novel under his belt, White’s next project should be something to anticipate.
