Shadowline/Image Comics 2015
Created by Brian Haberlin & Skip Brittenham
Written & Illustrated by Brian Haberlin
Coloured by Geirrod Van Dyke
So if you have the correct type of phone and can download the app you can have a truly interactive experience reading this comics and it seems that this kind of collaboration could be the future for print comics.
Man has finally found a way to travel faster than light and he’s getting ready to explore a greater part of the unknown universe. Sounds Star Trek like to me and i’m okay with that. Any time you get a burgeoning space travel story it’s bound to draw comparisons. Plus the in book references well that’s just priceless. Brian is nailing this for me, he’s writing it and illustrating it and the artwork is stunning and the dialogue is illuminating. The fact that we’ve got two characters trying out lines on what to say to the first new species they meet yeah it’s laid back and believable.
Page ten took my breath away. The ship that will carry them further than any other before it, with the space station behind it while both orbit the Earth. Yeah it’s an incredibly stunning and powerful visual.
If it weren’t enough that we’re getting this great look at the beginning of immense space travel, they’ve got ships have explored locally but this new technology allows them to go further than ever before and that’s exciting. Seeing what this series will bring us in new alien species and new friends and foes it’s the kind of the stuff that excites a reader. The unknown can be as scary as it is exciting and this issues captures that balance beautifully. We also get to see that Commander Grissom used to be captain of the ship replaced by Captain Anderson.
Ah a woman relieved of command and she’s holding a grudge. While it’s nothing new this is a pioneering mission it’s going to be an interesting conflict. You can say it’s no big deal and that you understand but the demotion stings and well women hold grudges more. Not to mention the blending of his trusted crew members with her and her crew yeah it’s going to play a pivotal role later on. This first is a perfect set-up!
There’s drama, human interest, the unknown and some beautiful characterization alongside page after page of WOW interior artwork. Oh plus there’s a whole thing happening here that you’ll need to read and trust me when I say it won’t surprise you very much but it will add a whole new dimension to things and the power struggle is very real.
With references, the look and feel of varied franchises Brian blends them all so that he comes up with his own version of what the depths of space has to offer. It’s an intense read and one that demonstrates why Image is home of Imagination.