Morning Glories, Vol. 1: For a Better Future

Plot: six teenagers start classes at Morning Glory Academy, and quickly start to learn secrets about themselves and the school.

The mysteries of Morning Glories are definitely enticing: Is there anything connecting the students, other than sharing a birthdate? Why are members of the staff trying to kill them (or, at least, making them think they want to kill them)? Perhaps most importantly, what are the things in the basement? There have been some comparisons made to Lost, in terms of how these mysteries are laid out for later followup, and how certain reoccuring phrases (such as “The Hour of our Release Draws Near”) show up in unexpected locales. They're definitely the kind of sci-fi mysteries that draw me in, and I'm curious to see what happens next with them.

The downside, I would have to say, is the characterization. There's a big cast here, but we're given little to differentiate them from one another (the art isn't a big help here, either, as everyone has the same, plasticy look to them). Also, there's a lot that happens to the kids in this volume, and they seem to take it all in stride. I think the story would be stronger if it were slowed down a little, and we got to learn more about the characters in between those moments.