Title: Urban Legends – Jumper

Review: Jumper

In "Jumper", by the duo Karol Weber and Gedeon, we get an interesting concoction, spiced with a mustard seed, as it happens with Weber. "Jumper" is essentially hopeful, although it is also one of those stories with which the creator proves how ambiguous and multidimensional people can be. That, despite the expectations of others, there is no black and white, but hundreds of shades of gray.

In this story we meet pensioners again, talking on the roof. In fact, they are the protagonists of the story - their conversations are a commentary on the events taking place in parallel (sometimes the creators like to go crazy and take us on a journey even across three planes). However, these conversations are more than just neighborhood gossip, as they are filled with sociological and psychological reflection. And don't let that discourage you, because this is far from Weber's way of moralizing. Rather, it's a way of showing the ambiguity of the world, the characters, and the complex meanderings of the human psyche.

And the action? - You will ask. Of course there is. For here we have a snapshot worthy of the superheroes known for their popular creations. For here appears to our eyes an unremarkable man who ultimately proves to have the makings of a hero. It is he who - by unknown powers - saves the entire family of the owner of the apartment building from the flames. Only in everyday life, this man turns out not to be a superhero, but someone who struggles with a whole taboo of dark demons. Fortunately, fate puts a superheroine in his way - albeit without miraculous powers - whose perseverance allows him to take the first steps out of his personal quagmire.

All of this is accompanied by a conversation between retired men who dissect - in a somewhat scientific tone - the morality of mythical superheroes. This beautifully illustrates both the inherent nature of our human species to be hypocritical in our judgments, and the problem of constructed expectations of others. Does a superhero have to be crystal clear? Is it his duty to help always and everywhere? Or does he not have to be good at all to do good?

"Jumper," surrounded by fantastic art by the bottom-feeding Gedeon, is a lot of philosophical fun. It gives food for thought and makes you think. The artist's choice is excellent - the muted colors, colorful accents, slightly surreal spaces, and amazingly distinctive physiognomies of the main characters make the philosophical background of the story engaging in every way.

MK