Cosmic Times 2015
Written, Illustrated, Lettered & Cover by Mike Wagganer
Coloured by Moisely Fernandez
Teenage (?) rock ‘n roll robots in outer space. Okay so the robots seem more sentient than not so there’s an evolution here that may or may not be explored. The bots are more than a band apparently they have a destiny, one which by the end of the issue they are going to confront whether they are ready or not. So a kind of growing up or growing into something more kind of story that’s cool.
I like the interior artwork here it’s very fitting for this almost all-ages science fiction adventure. It’s vibrant, vivid and the humanoid robot’s really have the right style to be engaging. Plus the buildings and such that they live in yeah it’s kind of like what you’d imagine it would as a kid or a high end cartoon version that’s familiar and yet just weird enough to make it plausible.
I found the interaction between the characters amusing. The eternal question do robots dream is played out again here. Still these guys have very distinct personalities and that we see them talking about the dream of one and what to do about it was kind of cool. I like the blend of human traits along with the traditional robot thinking here Mike really found a way to make this stand out and be unique. See Jerrick’s been having the same dream and it doesn’t end well, he’s falling and then everything explodes.
So what’s the story really about? Sure we can have fun seeing this trio of bandmates bringing joy to some fans but that wouldn’t really story worthy in itself. So cut to a little bot who is a major fan of Deep Space Tragedy, the band’s name, as he receives a special gift. We have no idea what it is but as he’s listening to the radio he gets more and more excited about heading to the concert with his buddy. The lil guy is really fun and is extremely likable.
We do kind of get to meet the bad guy and learn about what the little guy got and the subsequent danger/trouble he’s about to be in. So now there’s a mystery to be solved as to what it is and why it’s important and why ultimately it and everyone with it should be erased.
In the back alley after the show the lil guy shows Dom what arrived. The plan is then to get the band to see it and take them off planet which I guess would be anyone’s dream had they lived there. Only they are met with security/police/military style robots who try to take the artifact for themselves and in doing so cause a big problem. This ties into Jerrick’s dreams and well it ends with him coming to a conclusion that his dreams weren’t dreams but more like prophecy.
It has this whole Josie and the Pussycats in Outer Space thing happening, don’t start because I love that, and it mixes with Bolts and Blip to create this really fun idea. This is a great offering if you want just to escape, have some fun and be entertained. Nothing too heavy or angst ridden just old fashioned fun that’s sorely missing from today’s market!