I, Witness

While rooting through a dumpster, teenager Robbie witnesses a murder and flees the scene with his friend Boone. They agree to tell no one, but the murderers have different plans. First Robbie, then their friend Andre are picked off by the killers, but Boone refuses to finger the perpetrators for local police. Despite the pleas of his murdered friends’ family members, classmates, and the investigator trying desperately to crack the case, Boone remains adamant that his safety lies in saying nothing, even if he is branded a coward in the process. The idea of stepping forward and telling the truth is a worthy one, but in McClintock’s story, the concept feels like it is on a tape loop. Each character reminds Boone every other panel that he has refused to reveal who the murderers are, and that he is a bad person for not doing so. This trope only deepens as Boone becomes witness to several more murders. Deas’s illustrations at their best feel like on-the-spot sketches at a crime scene, but sometimes feel rushed, giving crucial scenes involving murder and emotional awakening a slapped-together feeling that does not do justice to the rest of the story. (Oct.)