‘Mirror’s Edge: Exordium’ Comic Review

Even if you’ve never played the games, Mirror’s Edge is familiar. The aesthetics of the game are known to players and non-players alike: stark reds stand out against the gleaming white background of the city, and our protagonist, Faith, with her distinctive tattoo, mark the branding of the Mirror’s Edge franchise. It’s a favorite of many, a recommendation I often offer to my friends who are looking for something new to play. Now I can add comics to my suggestions of media within the franchise they should check out.

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The first few pages of Mirror’s Edge: Exordium are very distinctly that–Mirror’s Edge. The colors and clean landscapes illustrate the world in which Faith lives. The first page and the credits page feature Faith in her runner’s glory. From the very first panels we’re given a bit of an introduction to her personality, which is awesome–straight up, we see Faith is not someone who settles for the ordinary and not someone who wishes to conform to the standards society has set for her.

Then comic wastes no time kicking itself into high gear. From the get-go we’re thrown into a chase, a capture, and a revelation. It’s great; I dislike when there’s a lot of needless exposition in comics, and Exordium has the perfect balance of dialogue and action, making it a very quick, easy read.

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Character introductions are done well, and it’s easy to tell who the major players are. It’s great to see how Faith interacts with them and sees herself in relation to them. Faith is headstrong, brave, and takes no crap from anyone, even when she’s captured and faced with injury or possibly death. She and her colleagues ponder the curiosities of how she was allowed to escape from her capture and what should have been imminent death, and that’s what seems to set the groundwork for the story. The last panel, especially, lets us know that Faith fears just about nothing, but she has a deep desire to learn more about her family’s past.

I’ve always liked Mirror’s Edge because it’s a different brand of dystopia than what’s usually given, and especially in comparison to what pop culture has been producing lately in terms of dystopian societies. Most dystopian landscapes feature grungy and destroyed cities, dark and foreboding. Mirror’s Edge is the opposite–crisp and clean, an image of perfection rather than destruction. It’s absolutely fascinating in both its execution and its connotation: a crisp, clean exterior alludes to the darkness within, in addition to the extreme controlThe City holds over its residents.

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The undertone is sinister and disturbing, as anyone who’s read 1984 will build connections to the concept of ‘Big Brother Is Watching You’ and a police force determined to stop Faith and those like her. The mystery sets up what will be an interesting story arc that will definitely be able to carry itself through several issues.

I look forward to seeing where this series goes. With Catalyst making its way to players soon, this is a good introduction to characters and plotlines that people who haven’t had experience with Mirror’s Edge will enjoy. Of course, for a deeper understanding of everything that goes on in Mirror’s Edge, definitely play the games. But the comics are an excellent and welcome addition to the universe, and will surely provide a supplement to a much-anticipated and enjoyed series.

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