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Introduction:

What if mankind used every aspect of their minds to the fullest extent? The long thought myth is that humans only use 10% of their brain power and although science shows we actually use more than that are there those that truly use their brains to its highest capacity? 7 Percent explores the idea of that pursuit and the eventual unlocking of the human mind. The results may awe and horrify you.

Vitals

Title: 7 Percent
Creator: Luke Keith
Writer: Jeremy Fiest
Artist: Jarreau Wimberly
Content: 7 Percent is for mature readers and contains language and graphic violence.

Publisher: Red 5
Cost: $1.99 – This title is only available digitally through iVerse and Comixology.

Story:

The Earth has been long abandoned in the year 3499 but there are those that still cling to life underneath the surface of the husk that once was our brilliant planet. Humanity has developed and expanded their minds to new heights, unlocking and accessing 93% of the human mind. That last 7% was only tapped by one man who made a device called the Psion Machine. He went to his death with the true secret of unlocking the Psion Machine, but many powers have continued to look for this long lost device. One rebel group has finally found the machine, but are still working to discover its secrets.
It would seem that the Psion Machine is looking for something or someone to truly merge with and give the gift of all that comes with an unlocked mind. The rebels may have to work fast because news of their work has reached the Union, the strongest force in the galaxy and a group that has its own agenda for the Psion Machine.

Review:

I am loving all the science fiction comic books that are coming out onto the market right now. I have been a hardcore sci-fi nut for the longest time having been sucked into the genre by Jane Yolen’s The Dragon Pit Trilogy and John Christopher’s The White Mountains Trilogy. Those books awakened in me a hunger and thirst for space travel, aliens, and the unexplored. 7 Percent looks to be just the thing to scratch that science fiction itch.
The concept of unlocking the human mind isn’t a new one and scientists now argue that we actually do use one hundred percent of our brains in a given day, but the idea of pushing one’s mind to its fullest potential is one that will continue to come up in storytelling.

The storyline so far feels a lot like The Matrix. A small underground rebel group is seeking to free mankind from an evil, all powerful, and technologically advanced force, looking for that one person to lead them to victory. Keith and Fiest turn that concept on its head when the one they seek isn’t the one they want at all and could easily use the powers of the Psion Machine to destroy and enslave them all.

There was a lot of the art by Wimberly that I enjoyed such as the military forces, sprawling underground cities, and altered beings. They really fit well and I enjoyed the detail in them. Where I think Wimberly can improve is on the faces of the characters portrayed. There were many panels that were strong and certain characters looked great, but there were also times where the face looked awkward and unpolished. Some characters faces really seemed to change their appearance throughout like the sniper Orlee whom at first look like a girl, then much like a kid, then quite a bit older later on. I hope that is something that improves through the series.

The other aspects of the comic, such as the coloring, were good if not great. I really liked the glowing effects of the technology, the haze of the battlefield, and the flicker of the soldiers force fields. They really added to the science fiction world that the trio has created.

Conclusion:

Although certain aspects of the material were familiar and there were issues with some of the art, I really liked where the story was going in this comic book. The low price of just under two dollars make it a great jumping on point for fans wanting to check out this series. I appreciate that Red 5 is jumping full on into the sci-fi stories I have been looking for as of late.
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