Science fiction 34 - World Comic Book Review

East of West #26 (Review)

October 21, 2016August 11, 2016 by DG Stewart

East of West #26
(Image Comics, July 2016)
Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Imagine an alternative reality whereby the continental United States is divided between the Union, the Confederacy, a Texan Republic, a black homeland called The Kingdom, a Native American high technocratic autocracy called The Endless Lands, and a Maoist Chinese state where California would otherwise be. This universe also features the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse reincarnated as young children. This is except for Death, depicted as a lean cowboy, accompanied by two powerful Native American sorcerers, and who has fathered the beast of the Apocalypse manifest as a young boy.

This is the outlandish backdrop to “East of West”. And yet despite this absurdity, the series is written, by Jonathan Hickman, with utter finesse. The characters and interpersonal relations are riveting, the action epic, the dialogue fine-tuned, and the execution sublime.

Rock & Stone #1 vol. 1 (review)

October 21, 2016August 9, 2016 by Neil Raymundo

Rock & Stone #1 vol. 1 (review)
(Delcourt, July 2016)
Writer: Nicholas Jean

“Rock & Stone” #1 vol. 1 is a science fiction comic book written by Nicholas Jean, released digitally and in English by French publisher Delcourt.

The comic is set in the year 2215, on a human-colonized planet called Caldoria that has been ravaged by a war between humans and machines controlled by a rogue artificial intelligence. The story’s premise is nothing new: the theme of post-apocalyptic science fiction stories – particularly tales that focus on rebellious machines – is a well-trodden path. Fortunately, “Rock & Stone”’s appeal relies not on novelty, but upon execution.

Injection Vol 1 (Review)

October 21, 2016August 2, 2016 by DG Stewart

“Injection” Vol 1 (review)
Image Comics, July 2016
Writer: Warren Ellis

British writer Warren Ellis has been intensely prolific over the past year, penning the following titles:

a. “Trees“, another Image Comics publication;
b. James Bond – Vargr;
c. a title for Marvel Comics, “Moon Knight”;
d. another title for Marvel Comics, “Karnak”;
d. a novel entitled “Normal”.

“Injection” is the latest from Mr Ellis, and it consists of his trade mark dense concepts and dry wit. But Mr Ellis is treading on old ground in other ways, too.

If you were to squint long enough, “Injection” is a blurred, fuzzy, contemporary and bleaker version of Mr Ellis’ wondrous title, “Planetary” (1998-2009, Wildstorm Comics). In “Planetary”, three (and sometimes four) archeologists explore mysteries each of which have a core in popular culture. These range from pulp heroes from the 1930s to Japanese monster movies to American and English superheroes.

Predator vs. Judge Dredd vs. Aliens #1 (review)

October 21, 2016July 29, 2016 by Neil Raymundo

Predator vs. Judge Dredd vs. Aliens #1
IDW Publishing, July 2016
Writer: John Layman

“Predator vs. Judge Dredd vs. Aliens” is a crossover comic book from American publisher IDW Publishing. As the title suggest, it features three extremely popular science fiction franchises. The central figures of each go head-to-head against each other in a story that is expected to favor flashy action over narrative depth. (“Predator” began its life as a motion picture starring action actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and features a monstrous alien which hunts humans. “Alien” is a series of motion pictures involving a terrifying “xenomorph” species with acid for blood, retractable jaws and a penchant for laying eggs inside its human victims.)

Do not envy the task of a writer who needs to craft a solid, coherent and believable inter-franchise crossover, especially if the characters exist on completely separate and incompatible universes or timelines.