I recommend this book to anyone who has struggled (out loud, or in silence) with anxiety and/or depression. Nick has gone to great lengths to share his personal battle in a way that is both therapeutic to him, and eye opening to the reader. Sometimes the toughest monsters to fight are the ones who dwell inside us.
That being said, there are some potentially triggering scenes in the book, so please read at your own pace.
Professional resources are available at cdc.gov
Publishing Information
Writer: Nicholas Daulton
Artists: Nicholas Daulton
Release Date: August 7, 2024
Publisher: Nicholas Daulton
This page contains affiliate links that support my hobby!
Art
| Line Quality | 5 |
| Color | 4 |
| Emotion | 5 |
| Composition | 5 |
Story
| Characters | 4 |
| Action | 5 |
| Cohesion | 4 |
| Meaningful | 5 |
| Paper | 5 |
| Construction | 5 |
| Editing | 5 |
| Advertisements | 5 |
Art
Nick has been drawing for as long as I can remember. And I just happen to be lucky enough to know him personally since grade school (about 30 years). His art is a mix of Manga meets Modern Age comics.
The anatomy and line work are really good, and the shading is interesting and ‘tactile’. But what really makes his art stand out is the action. The movement, the facial expressions, and the anime style effects are absolutely epic.
A lot of this book is centered on the action, with solid white, solid black, or subtle backgrounds. But don’t be discouraged, as you’ll soon find out it makes sense, it fits the story.
When you’re having an internal struggle, inner dialogue, or visualizing your feelings, it is rare that you will focus on ‘background details’. And that’s pretty much what’s happening in this story.
When the surrounding area matters, the detail is outstanding. There’s one part near the end of the book where one character is gaining energy from all of the other characters past failures, literally pulling energy from the surroundings. In this scene, you can see exactly how much detail and care Nick has put into his work.
To say there’s a good bit of emotion in this book is a gross understatement. I had moments while reading this where I just had to put the book down and take a breath. I had moments where I couldn’t help but cry. And moments where I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Story
As for story, I don’t really want to give too much away. I’ve already shown several panels of art, but I think you owe it to yourself to read the story on your own. Nick’s story is far from over, and he’s got another book in the making. If you want to show him support, purchase his book and spread the word.
You deserve it, and I’m sure you can think for two or three people who would benefit from reading this.
Nick can be found on:
For more reviews, stay tuned to www.myfirstissue.com and tiktok.com/@blake_tolliver
My First Issue 
Leave a comment