Boom! Studios 2016
Created & Written by Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly
Created & Illustrated by Marcus To
Coloured by Irma Kniivila
Lettered by Jim Campbell
I LOVE, LOVE LOVE LOVE this issue! Did I say I LOVE this issue yet? So yes it’s an incredible concept to start with. The Earth has built this barrier to shut itself off from the rest of the universe and it goes to the Moon. There’s one Government worldwide and if you are not a part of things or form a resistance then there’s a big gun on the moon that shoots at you. The opening has this confirmed with twelve aberrations in Toronto being eliminated. It's an oppressive environment that no one knows anything except this way of life, or do they?
This is a future where things have changed dramatically. People don’t know what stars are and names are variations of words and the entire culture seems to suffer from this delusional isolation based on lies and fear that it’s amazing to see. Sure technology is advanced but where’s the hope, dreams or passion in anyone? So right off the bat we meet Uma and Dewydd, i’m pronouncing it dude. It’s kind of easy to see that Dewydd likes Uma a lot and she doesn’t really think of him the same way.
Marcus and Irma do some incredible work on the interiors here. Marcus has always been a really good and strong artist and seeing him with something he’s helped create seems to have elevated his work. Both these characters, their clothes, the backgrounds you name it and it’s so nicely detailed and the feelings, expressions and everything comes through these characters faces. I do like the slightly manga-esque attire they wear to work it’s very future militaristic in nature plus what’s done with em hell it’s cool. I love the storytelling through the visual range of panels and pages as well this couldn’t have been any better than it is.
How this issue plays out, the rather unexpected third party to join them and the aliens we encounter all conspire to really give this the pop it deserves. The characterization is absolutely phenomenal and the dialogue is perfect for each of them. You can’t help find things to like and enjoy about them and where you see them going not to mention how they will continue to interact with each other. Just the way the story is brought to life and you see and feel things from these characters in ways that genuinely excite you is infectious.
For me it’s like a new Galaxy Trio on the loose with no idea what’s out there be it joy or perils. It’s time to live life and whatever happens happens and it’s that attitude, mainly from Uma, that makes me overjoyed with this book. After reading the issue I went back and noticed it’s only a four issue series and that made me slightly sad because this would be the kind of ongoing series where there is so much potential that you never want to see it end.
Go out get this and revel in it’s sheer audacity of kids breaking free of a stifling life.