In comics, there are numerous examples of marginalized groups that are hidden away beneath the Earth’s surface (the 
Morlocks of Uncanny X-Men and the Moloids of Fantastic Four come to mind), but Sabir Pirzada flips this idea by presenting a world wherein immigrants, displaced workers, and other “Exiles” are relegated to the sky. Told across a series of short, loosely connected stories featuring different artists, Dandelion gives us a glimpse into a near future in which the skies are full of floating, habitable pods. Known as Dandelions, these pods are occupied by people who have renounced citizenship of the surface world in exchange for the safety and security of a new home in the sky. The lower class is literally hovering high above the rich and powerful, but we soon discover that many of the familiar struggles still remain.
Against the backdrop of an Earth ravaged by global warming and dwindling resources, the comic kicks off with the story of a couple making the painful decision to leave behind their life on Earth to live in a Dandelion, but goes on to tell tales that explore the ways these pods impact relationships, mental health, and humanity’s connection to nature and tradition. While each story touches on a different aspect of life in the age of Dandelions, these seemingly disparate narratives are united by mentions of the mysterious Jen Nakamuto, the supposed inventor of the Dandelions.
Much like its sci-fi anthology predecessors such as The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, Dandelion takes a simple high concept and explores it in ways that raise questions about current-day concerns. Themes of class warfare, the destruction of the environment, the displacement of humans by technology, and the sacrifices we make to have comfort and stability under a Capitalist system linger throughout. However, Pirzada keeps things grounded and explores these issues through the lens of actual human beings who are affected by them. Across the various chapters, we see characters who are faced with loneliness, regret, and frustration as a result of technological advances that make it possible to sequester unwanted citizens to the sky.
Pirzada mostly keeps the narrative going at a quick pace, allowing his artists to do much of the storytelling legwork, and never really gives the comic a chance to get too heavy or preachy, despite the extremely weighty themes. While not a dealbreaker, the use of different artists for each story means that occasionally, the transition from one tale to the next feels slightly jarring, and not every artist brings the same level of clarity and readability. Highlights include the two sections drawn by Martín Morazzo, who is no stranger to ambitious comics that ask big, uncomfortable questions, as evidenced by his work on Ice Cream Man. His work, which is wisely chosen for the opening chapter, demonstrates legible linework that evokes the works of artists like Steve Dillon or Frank Quitely, and brings a sense of accessibility that shouldn’t scare away new comic readers.
It’s also worth noting the degree that Pirzada normalizes diversity within the different stories of Dandelion. LGBTQIA+ characters, couples of different skin colors, and various forms of disability are on full display, such that they are merely an accepted part of everyday life. Although Pirzada and the artists are more explicit in the questions they raise about technology and social class than, say, racial and gender politics, they nonetheless make an important statement that the world is meant to be populated by a diverse group of people.
Dandelion is suggested for readers 16 and up, perhaps due to a few instances of profanity, blood, and gore, but I think the comprehensible art style, social awareness, and clever concept could also speak to adventurous sci-fi fans who are slightly younger. As a well-paced, self-contained book that highlights major issues of today, Dandelion is great for readers of sci-fi anthologies (or sci-fi in general) who like their speculative fiction focused on the human condition. Fans of Tales from the Loop, Snowpiercer, or the previously mentioned Black Mirror would feel right at home.
Dandelion
By Sabir Pirzada
Art by Martín Morazzo, Vanesa Del Rey, Eric Koda, Roy Allan Martinez
Image, 2024
ISBN: 9781534397545
Publisher Age Rating: 16+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
Creator Representation: Argentinian, Cuban, Pakistani,
Character Representation: Japanese,
