'Far Sector' #6 Review: A quiet moment before the storm sees Marth face the consequences of his actions
Spoilers for 'Far Sector' #6
'Far Sector' is one of DC's more unique series. Published under its 'Young Animal' imprint, it has the freedom to wander off the beaten path in terms of storytelling structure. Though it does contain all the staples of a superhero comic — costumes, origins, actions and art — its pacing, in-depth world-building and character beats make it feel more like reading through a novel than a comic. Few superhero comics manage to draw you in quite as deeply as 'Far Sector' does, and its latest issue is especially introspective — a moment of calm between some very big events.
The recap for this issue plays into the romance that's been building between Marth and Jo, as they deliver their exposition in an irreverent parody of old school romance comics. In the wake of the riots that see the populace of the City Enduring demanding to be allowed to legally feel emotions again, Jo Mullein is spending some downtime waiting for the city's referendum. She is joined by the Council's Marth of the Sea, who is attempting to court her. He is also there to let her know that he has resigned from his position after the riots.
Most of the issue is taken up with the conversation between Jo and Marth, who is currently on Switchoff — the illegal drug that allows him to feel emotion. We get a closer look than ever as to how Marth deals with his emotions — he sees them as perspective, to back up or refute his more logical decisions. In Jo's eyes, Marth's emotional and unemotional selves are two different people — almost two entirely separate personalities. A political conversation blends with the philosophical — is a person truly themselves if they're cut off from their feelings?
A big part of this issue centers around Marth's decision to resign from the Council. The Far Sector's politics are far from perfect, but it is heartening to see a politician who can realize their mistakes and withdraw from a position of power, despite their belief that they can do more good within the system than without.
The above panel in particular is what makes Marth's resignation so impactful. All politicians, in theory, want to do better, but all politicians also make mistakes. The City Enduring appears to have a standard where those who have done wrong immediately give up their power as a consequence of their action, and while that's a far cry from reality, it's heartening to see. 'Far Sector' does what science fiction does best — question if there's a better way of doing things and the series focuses on that question more closely than most. It's hard to say whether the politics of the City Enduring are the best way to go — but in cases like these, the City Enduring's morality is far more evolved than Earth's.
The issue is not without its tender moments and it's here that the quietness of the art and its saturated, moody colors really come into play. The mood that the colors set make every scene softer, despite the harshness of Jo's confrontation with Marth. It allows for Marth's own compassion — temporary as it may be — to shine through, and the two share a genuinely tender moment that regretfully, and maybe necessarily, is gone by morning.
'Far Sector' #6 is a moment of respite in very difficult times. It's a look at a better world — not a perfect one, but one where, at the very least, those in power face consequences for their actions without having to be forced into it, and where the people's voice is heard. Even if the people have had to riot to get that voice heard, the message still goes through. If Jo can find the corruptive influences that are working against the City's best interests in time, she might actually leave the City Enduring a better place than she found it, though there's no telling what exactly that might look like.
Written by: NK Jemisin
Art and Color: Jamal Campbell
Lettering: Deron Bennet
The next issue of 'Far Sector' released on June 24, wherever comics are sold.
