Jorge Corona brings Feathers #1-3 together as writer and artist, a sweet tale revolving around street children, the rich, and an unabashed view at the class divisions between those living the high life and those in the slums. Featuring beautiful art and a quick-paced plot, will this six-part mini series lead you flying high or spitting feathers?

Publisher: BOOM!/Archaia
Writer: Jorge Corona
Artists: Jorge Corona; Jen Hickman
Price: £2.49 from Comixology

Feathers opens onto a fantasy city-scape in the dead of night. There is an exchange between two unseen characters while the reader witnesses the discovery of Feathers, one of the protagonists. A wager is set and a villain is introduced. This all takes place in the Maze, the slums where the poor live outside of the City. Think of this exchange as a prologue as the rest of the comic is set 11 years after the opening. It’s here that we are introduced to Bianca who is fortunate enough to have been born as a “waller”, somebody who lives in the City and as such, her mother tries to suppress Bianca’s curiosity about the slums.

There are multiple, linked, events happening throughout and the reader will be constantly asking questions – not because they don’t understand what’s happening, but because Corona’s writing drip feeds information, teasing and tempting the pages to turn. That isn’t to say it’s a slow-paced comic. Something important and relevant is always happening, each sentence carefully composed to deliver information about the world, the characters, or the plot.

Usually this kind of writing would throw a reader in at the deep end when learning about the world and its nuances; however the comic flicks between the Maze and the City so that the reader quickly gets a handle on the divide between the two classes of people.

The artwork also drops hints about the two different environments. Everything in the City is coloured with gentle pastels and there’s a lot of physical space and light. On the other hand, the Maze is a smudge of greys, browns and general dullness. There is less space – the art even goes as far as to use the panels to link scenes together as the characters step between them – which just adds to the sense of claustrophobia and overcrowding in the maze.

Feathers presents an uncomplicated view of class divisions. Suitable for a younger audience, this is a great introduction to comic books that aren’t based around superheroes. It is truly a delight to read and is well worth a look.

“Feathers is a heart-warming comic full of innocence which will delight both adults and children alike. A great introduction to indie comics for a younger audience.”