Creator Navy Bird has crafted an exquisitely beautiful, wonderfully surreal world in Still Earth; the nonsense poetry and dream-like stories – showcasing the residents of a world which has mysteriously stopped spinning – occasionally bleeding into each other in surprising ways.

Though there’s plenty of whimsy in the tales – along with mind blowing inventiveness in the dense, yet often fairly abstract, visuals – there are also hints of sadness and tragedy behind the surreal, storybook charm.

One story in particular was a real emotional gut punch by the end; it hit me so hard that I had to share my thoughts with the world immediately via the medium of a tweet!

Even the cover is a masterclass in detail; the more you delve into the pages of Still Earth, the more the disparate elements of the image come into focus.

There’s the occasional misstep, especially with one dialogue free story that I didn’t quite grasp the meaning of; likewise with the sometimes twisting layouts – at one or two points, I wasn’t sure where my eye should go next.

These really are minor issues, however.

Given the high level of creativity and artistry in Still Earth, I am at a loss as to why Navy Bird isn’t more well known or widely read. 

What I do know is that they do deserve much more exposure and acclaim than they seem to have found so far.

Still Earth is, for me, an absolute revelation; a true joy to read from start to finish and a real emotional rollercoaster. 

It’s thought provoking, funny, wittily scripted and loaded with an undercurrent of genuine emotion; I’ve never read anything quite like it and it’s become unquestionably one of the very best comics I’ve read this year, if not ever.

I’d urge you to check out Navy Bird’s Still Earth. It’s an absolute tour de force of visual design and writing that’ll stay with you long after you’ve read the last page.

You can read Still Earth on Navy Bird’s website or on Webtoons here.

Many thanks to Navy Bird for sending me a copy of Still Earth for review purposes.