Named to Comixology‘s “Best of 2013” list with his digital comic Moth City, Tim Gibson now tells another story set in the Moth City universe. The Reservoir is a western in black, white and blood that tells the story of Governor McCaw and his family before they ever came to Moth City.
The Reservoir is a bit of a prelude one-shot to Moth City. It’s a dialogue-less story of brothers and family that centers around Governor McCaw, the future leader of Moth City, and his family, including his daughter Glitter. It’s Gibson’s own take on a western, with the characters embodying various western themes. Much like the greater Moth City story, it’s a bit morally complicated with plenty of grey areas, but nothing is usually ever black and white, even if drawn in black and white. As a one-shot, it’s perfect for new readers, but regular readers of Moth City certainly won’t feel left out. It’s full of love, revenge, and anger in only a way that a western could be. 
Gibson keeps the story without dialogue, instead telling the story through his art and the overlayed narration that details the internal struggle of man as he sets forth to explore and pioneer and the unity and dichotomy of family. No dialogue allows Gibson’s art to “talk” for itself, but the narration lends a deeper air to the story, making more than just a man, his brother, and his family and a statement about much more. It’s Gibson’s strength as an artist that lets his characters stay silent, but still say so very much with their actions and expressions on each page.
While black and white is a bit of a departure from the colored world of Moth City, Gibson makes it look good. It seems fitting for this story and the black/white scheme lends well to the opposites that are McCaw and his brother. I’m not entirely sure at what point The Reservoir was drawn in relation to the larger Moth City story, with the art feeling a bit rougher in places, but still exhibiting a lot of what makes Gibson’s style so great.
The Reservoir continues to show that Gibson is one of the best in digital comics right now. A bit less concerned with the tricks that come with digital comics, The Reservoir is a great character study and thoroughly fantastic take on the western. As a one-shot, new readers should feel right at home. As a story connected to a larger narrative, it should satisfy regular readers as well. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. Definitely be sure to grab it on Comixology and get 150+ pages of comic for just $2.99.
Art: 9/10
Script: 9/10
Parental Concern: Some violence and blood.
