Space monkeys... is there anyone that doesn't love 'em? Steve Conley sure does. His Astounding Space Thrills -- and more prominently, his work on the web -- has featured a green monkey mascot, Bloop, and the writer/artist has opted to give the cute little critter his own comic book. Overall, Conley offers more of the charm, adventure and humor that makes Astounding Space Thrills so much fun, but these three short stories are actually a little light on content. AST may be goofy and playful, but it's meaty as well, with strong plots and plenty of irreverent sci-fi dialogue. We don't get as much of that stuff here.
Picnic Guest: Visually, this is the most dense and detailed of the three stories. Of course, this was originally printed in color as a backup story in the Amelia Rules! Free Comic Book Day 2004 contribution, and it's been adjusted to the black-and-white format of this comic book. Conley manages to maintain the same texture and detail, but I have to admit, I missed the color. Still, the creator pulls off the silent story quite well... not an easy task. The conflict is a simple one, but the action is choreographed perfectly. This is definitely the strongest segment in the book.
Choice & Chance: This is billed as an Argosy Smith adventure, but Bloop plays a major role in the short story, so it still fits with the title of the comic book. I'm also pleased to find Theremin here, as he's my favorite of the AST characters. He represents the perfect balance between grounded and weird elements. The plot here is fun, but sadly, it's painfully predictable as well. The art is light and enjoyable, but it struck me as being a little sketchy. Usually, Conley's work is highly polished, but it looked a little rushed at times in this segment.
Rites: This short serial is actually interesting from a visual standpoint, as it seems to be something from earlier on in Conley's artistic career. The style at play here isn't quite as refined as what one expects from the artist, but there's also a greater emphasis on realism when it comes to anatomy. Argosy looks more grown-up, and the playfulness that's such an important aspect of the property isn't as strong. The story tends to tell the reader what's going on instead of showing him or her. This seems to be something Conley has dug up, and while it's not as strong as the other pieces in this book, it is interesting to compare them, to see the evolution in Conley's craft.
