Writer: Ryan Cady
Artist: Christian DiBari
Colorist: Simon Gough
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Cover Artists: Christian DiBari & Simon Gough; Rahsan Ekedal; Giuseppe Cafaro & John Starr; Stjepan Šejić
Publisher: Image
Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 11, 2023
Mitchell Slate is tired. Life has dragged him down. He’s working hard to provide for his family. Yet the stress is killing him. Is his situation hopeless? Let’s open Destiny Gate #1 and find out!
Story
The Great Depression brought America to the breaking point. A homeless man reminds Mitchell how fragile his life is. One wrong decision could cost his family everything.
When he boards his train, two children huddle on a seat. They whisper their plan to avoid the steward. If Mitchell can't increase his income, his children may end up penniless.
Another passenger enters. He sits across from Mitchell. He wants to borrow Mitchell’s newspaper. Mitchell shrugs. He doesn’t mind. It’s all bad news, anyway.
Mitchell excuses himself. In the restroom, his economic plight and last conversation with his wife haunt him. He wonders if he can go on. He returns to find the carriage in darkness. His passengers are also changed. Mitchell's about to embark on the ride of his life in Destiny Gate #1.
I wish Ryan Cady's story made more practical sense. I wanted to identify with Mitchell. Still, all the tracks in Destiny Gate #1 have led to this crisis point in Mitchell's life. As in an episode of The Twilight Zone, Mitchell must now decide his destiny.
Art
Christian DiBari’s settings evoke the early 20th century. Inked shadows, obscuring fog, period attire, and occasional tilted panels give Destiny Gate #1 a film noir appearance. The children on the train--and a photo of his family--tug at the heartstrings. You never see the other man's features. After Mitchell leaves the restroom, the carriage changes. His fellow passengers also transform. Mitchell’s nightmare ride has begun.
The steward says that Mitchell's attire is shabby. Yet I noticed no wear or stains on his suit, tie, hat, and jacket. His briefcase contains a photo, a book, and a gun. But he's a traveling salesperson, not a detective. Does Mitchell carry his weapon for protection or another purpose? And what does he sell? As compelling as Mitchell’s nightmare is, I wish DiBari’s art told me more about Mitchell.
While Christian DiBari inks shadows, Simon Gough’s palette provides atmosphere. Most settings are earth tones or red, with an ample helping of gray. Yet the gray doesn’t drag down scenes or obscure. Bright colors clash with reality, emphasizing the horrific scenes in the beautifully colored Destiny Gate #1.
Troy Peteri uses fading and shrinking to show lowered voices. Yet most of the dialogue and all the narrative are large black uppercase letters in balloons and boxes. The monster's beautifully stylized dialogue suggests a pen that dispenses ink unequally. Its larger size demonstrates the monster's mastery over Mitchell.
Final Thoughts
While reminding us of the dangers of anxiety, Destiny Gate #1 suggests the infinite possibilities that await a positive outlook.
Rating 8.8/10
For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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