Paranoid Gardens

Coauthors Way and Simon, who previously teamed up on The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, and illustrator Weston present a surreal, genre-blending fusion of science fiction, horror, and comedy set in a world where the rules of reality seem to shift without warning. Paranoid Gardens is an idyllic care facility that caters to an eclectic assortment of humans, aliens, and supernatural creatures in need of recuperation. The story follows Loo, a nurse whose absolute compassion for her patients often leads her to conflict with the hospital's administrative staff. When a Superman-esque costumed hero who arrives at the hospital seeking help to gain control claims to recognize Loo from somewhere, she begins suffering intense, otherworldly visions that raise questions about her history and purpose for being at the facility. Way and Simon's script is both unsettlingly weird and grimly humorous, embracing absurdity without sacrificing an emotional core, but Weston's hyper-detailed illustration is the standout here. His ability to shift between grotesque body horror, absurd satire, and psychedelic wonder makes each page a visual spectacle. VERDICT A fascinatingly chaotic, mind-bendingly off-kilter work of bold imagination and expert craftsmanship.