Boom Studios 2015
Created & Written by James Tynion IV & Noah J. Yuenkel
Illustrated by Matthew Fox
Coloured by Adam Metcalfe
I am enjoying this series very much there’s something inherently fun and cute about a couple kids who discover an alien one of whom receives a mark the other desperately wanted and then seeing them try to work together to figure it all out and work together to accomplish things that most adults wouldn’t be able to dream of doing. Having both of them come from totally different yet similar homes however does do wonders in strengthening their bond. The writing and characterization here has a lot of elements of making this a wonderful all ages book and the interior artwork just kind of reinforces that as the aliens and thinks Becky sees are freaky looking but not horrific, though the headless corpse in the morgue might suggest this isn’t for a younger audience per se I still see this as a great teen to adult story.
Seeing Malcolm’s dad come down in the morning to find him and Becky at the kitchen table was really fun to witness unfold. I mean he’s not fully awake and everything happens before he has a proper chance to really register what’s going on and it’s a typical kids move and it made me laugh. Then off he goes again to do his radio show without even realizing his son is far more immersed in his world than he could ever hope to be.
Malcolm has a few secrets and he takes Becky someplace where something ought to be but it isn’t there. Instead thanks to her new connection she does find something left behind. A book filled with symbols that make up a language unlike any man has seen. However before we can focus on that we need to head back to the grown-up world and Geoff’s talking to the Sheriff, Becky’s dad, about the slime and how it could be important because of it’s properties and the connection to what they’ve finding in other locations. Now here’s a great example of how as an adult we lose a connection to the curiosity and wonder of our youth and thinking outside the box and if you read you’ll understand exactly what i’m saying. Folks like us however who continue to read and enjoys probably understand less about losing that connections than those that don’t.
The ending here too is pretty great. Along with all the flashback sequences which kind of help define the kids currently and the man whom they encounter with his decidedly alien slimy body, sound familiar, well it promises to really heat things up next issue as hopefully the kids will learn the secret of why the ship came, what it’s looking for and if this slime guy is trying to stop them, plus if so why. This is fun cute look at a world you don’t expect to really get into and while it has all the elements of a campy old school B science fiction movie it balances that line and keeps it fresh, original and interesting while still paying an homage to late night delights.
All around I highly recommend this for anyone and everyone as the words and interiors blend to make this a fantastic story that goes deeper than you first realize.