Webcomic Recommendation: “Parallax”

Each year, I read countless remarkable webcomics – whether completed, unfinished, or on indefinite hiatus – harboring memorable characters and stories. Very few, however, exceed my expectations of what a good webcomic is to me: sharp characterization and a well-developed storyline(s). Parallax by M. Falke transcends the limits of astonishing storytelling.

I’ve been scavenging literature and the media for stories about male relationships: bonds between father and son, between brothers or male relatives, and between mentor and mentee. As a trans man who struggled with writing about female relationships in the past, I yearn for tales that tackle toxic masculinity and display the various ways to be a man.

I grew up in a household that glorified traditional gender roles – women were relegated to domestic duties like cooking and cleaning. Meanwhile, men were regarded as the dominant breadwinners who never emotionally broke down from the pressures of upholding patriarchal values. Even before my social transition, I’d retained my family’s belief that men who openly cry, cook, or do anything associated with femininity weren’t real men at all.

I didn’t confront myself and come out as trans until my early 30s because my personal idea about masculinity tainted my views on men. When I stumbled onto Parallax during my expedition excavating the archives of different webcomic platforms, I was delving into a narrative that centers on male relationships and how emotions aren’t something to shame someone for, regardless of gender.

Parallax follows Lomax Torchstone, a 17-year-old who has just moved into the town of Silverdalen. Used to moving from place to place with his parents, Lomax feels lonely and out of place. When his science teacher, Mr. Rogers, gives him a box that will make him stronger, Lomax dismisses it as a sketchy gift. But when Lomax activates the box that night, he undergoes a magical transformation into the wielder of a Raiment. With Mr. Rogers’s help, Lomax navigates his new abilities and role as a protector of Silverdalen while grappling with a desperate need for genuine communication and human contact.

While I can’t pinpoint the creator’s intention, the thematic elements in Lomax’s story echo the desire for male relationships (not just romantic) and embrace healthy masculinity. Although Lomax already has a father, he begins to see Mr. Rogers as a father figure. Mr. Rogers, who had a turbulent childhood and an emotionally unavailable father, is there for Lomax during emotional moments (spoilers withheld, but it becomes complicated later on).

I won’t spoil this part, but Lomax eventually meets another male wielder. That friendship eventually blooms into a strong bond that builds trust and dismantles loneliness. While reading, I became invested in these characters, rooting for them to jump over hurdles and make it to the end. Parallax is more than a story about magical boys fighting against evil entities (matter-horners, in this case) because of the focus on relationships.

Although Parallax is a solid story, the creator had to end it after a hiatus. It’s a bittersweet yet understanding choice. The ending will seem abrupt to readers, but the creator manages to wrap up the tangles in Lomax’s relationships with Mr. Rogers and the other Raiment. Parallax is definitely a webcomic worth checking out.

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You can read Parallax by M. Falke on Hiveworks. The creator’s site is unavailable.

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For more great webcomic recommendations, check out our Wednesday Webcomics archives!

Author: Bradda M.

Bradda M. currently lives in Virginia. He teaches ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) at a public school and spends his free time reading and watching movies each night with his partner. For The Geekiary, he writes about webcomics and SFF media.

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