MPLS Sound Is a Sumptuous Rock'n'Roll Fantasy
- WRITER
- Joseph Illidge, Hannibal Tabu
- Artist
- Meredith Laxton
- Letterer
- Ryan Lewis, ALW's Troy Peteri
- Cover Artist
- Jen Bartel
- Publisher
- Humanoids
- Price
- 13.99
- Release Date
- 2021-04-14
- Colorist
- Tan Shu
If there's one musical artist that rises above the rest of the Minneapolis music scene and catapulted himself into rock and roll immortality, it's Prince. His Royal Badness, the Purple One inspired millions of fans and future musicians around the world as he forged a unique, instantly iconic funk-rock sound. The Minneapolis scene and the ascension of the Artist Usually Known as Prince serves as the backdrop to Humanoids' original graphic novel, MPLS Sound, by Joseph P. Illidge, Hannibal Tabu and Meredith Laxton, who've crafted a comic book love letter to Prince's legacy and influence on an entire generation.
MPLS Sound follows a promising (and fictional) funk-rock band in 1980s Minneapolis known as Starchild fronted by an idealistic young woman named Theresa Booker. Inspired by the rise of Prince and explosion of his signature Minnesota sound, Theresa forms her own band, taking on the role of frontwoman and guitarist, before striking up the attention of Prince himself and crossing paths with other fan-favorite artists from the era. And as Minneapolis redefines itself, with Prince and Starchild leading the revolution at the helm of a new wave of music and rock and roll fashion, Theresa learns the personal and professional rigors of living out her dreams to make it in the music industry.
Illidge and Tabu are crafting a very clear love letter not just to Prince, but the entire New Power Generation through the eyes of one woman's semi-charmed life as she wholeheartedly pursues her dreams. Illidge, in particular, is a prolific industry veteran who progressed from editor to comic book executive, among the many roles he's played in the comic book industry over the course of his career. In the writer's seat, he definitely has something to say and knows exactly how to deliver it informed by his own extensive experience. This is a story that takes place in a specific time period, but it is not confined by it, as it showcases the timeless story of musicians dreaming big and following the trail blazed by Prince Rogers Nelson. The band Starchild may be fictional, but their inspiration and dreams come from a real place.
Laxton, working with color artist Tan Shu, delivers a lush, vibrant look at the world of early '80s Minneapolis; with an era and artist as visually-oriented as Prince, the artwork on a comic book like this comes with a high level of expectation which Laxton more than excels at. This is a good-looking book, and Illidge and Tabu know when to pull back and let the art do the talking, with Laxton getting plenty of room to stretch out and really capture the sign o' the times with her artwork. Shu's choice in color palette is similarly eye-catching and inviting, while this is a slice-of-life story on the surface, there is a definite magic given the inspiration and artwork.
MPLS Sound comes from an immensely personal place for its creative team and that passion project energy is clear from cover to cover. This is a fun, entertaining look at a past era. While Prince exists on the narrative's periphery, through the eyes of its protagonist, the presence and influence of His Royal Badness is felt throughout the story and particularly radiates off the page in the moments when he does inevitably appear. A must-read for Prince fans and music lovers, MPLS Sound's creative team has also made their story perfectly accessible to those more unfamiliar with the Purple One's body of work.