American Gothic Press 2016
Based on the unproduced teleplay by Carey Wilber
Edited & Adapted by Holly Interlandi
Illustrated by Kostas Pantoulas
Lettered by Marshall Dillon
The "Curious Galactics" storyline concludes! In an alien desert maze, Will and John Robinson trek on, now chariotless; fighting off strange creatures and rationing water and food the best they can. The situation seems hopeless, but it may be something entirely different from courage that gets the Galactics' attention.
I’ve been a fan of this since it started and this issue more than any other has had this feeling and impact that I wasn’t expecting. Lightyears ahead of it’s time this show was out there when it was made and today the effects and costumes may be considered cheesey but in this issue they look right, normal and somehow it’s like time has caught up with the show and this is the right moment in time and history for a series like this to be on stands. Holly’s adaptation has been a pure joy to read.
Kostas has an imagination that needs an outlet like this. That opening page was spectacularly done and evoked everything it needed. There’s that alien-ness and absurdity of the creature that feels more like a hybrid of so many things, yes it reminds of the early days of movies and television when they did that to create monsters. Throughout the book the attention to detail, the backgrounds, the onsies they wear all of it has this almost perfect look and feel to it that somehow while being a throwback or “retro” it’s completely now and modern (again). His eye for storytelling is marvelous and his use of pages and panels it’s a treat folks.
One thing you can’t help but notice is that shows back then, even these off the beaten path kind, had messages and meaning behind them. This one demonstrates that most aptly as these aliens testing Will and John show us. This whole father and son bonding story has been amazingly well represented. That you can love someone like that and not have to say the words it’s just part of who you are and how you act that’s some powerful stuff.
So it’s interesting to me too that the guys have been away for so long. I would have expected maybe a week at most considering what they’ve been through but nearly three wow. That only Will and Jon know what’s happened and have an unspoken understanding of being quiet about it yeah I’m digging that. The characterization here is phenomenally good. I’m impressed that Holly is able to take a teleplay and bring it to life like this, that’s real talent and i’m hoping that she’ll become inspired to keep telling stories this way, in the vein of what’s been, and keep this alive.
I just felt like this series was so NOW and i can’t really find a way to articulate it any better than that. Fans of the series from original run to reruns to those experiencing it for the first time this should become a fan favourite.