James Robinson turned heads in the North American comic-book industry with his landmark work on DC's Starman, but I was fan before that. I had followed Firearm, the series he wrote for Malibu's Ultraverse line in the early 1990s (I even have the Firearm #0 short film). But it turns out that Robinson was doing great work even before that. Dark Horse Comics has brought Illegal Alien -- originally intended as a serial for Dark Horse Presents but was published by Kitchen Sink Press instead -- back as a new graphic novel, and it's an intricate tale that crosses genres and challenges its audience. Had I known about this book before Dark Horse's re-issue, I'd have sought out the originals.
An alien craft crashes on Earth, but its alien pilot -- a gaseous entity completely unlike any life on our planet -- spirits away from its American captors and finds a new host body, the dead body of mobster and government informant Guido Palmano. The new Guido opts to follow in his predecessor's footsteps and heads off to England to reunite with a family he doesn't know. There, he takes his nephew, Dino, under his wing and embarks on a career as a inventor, fashioning devices that haven't been seen outside of sci-fi movies. Unfortunately for him, the original Guido's mistakes come back to haunt him.
Elliott's style is both simple and surprisingly detailed. The work of Hernandez brothers, Jaime and Gilbert, have clearly had a particularly strong influence on Elliott's art. His work here boasts an innocent tone, with a pinch of wonder, and in the process, it kind of reminds me of Steve (Astounding Space Thrills Conley's art. He captures the era in which the piece is set quite well but also maintains something of a universal tone that makes it easy to relate to the characters. His backgrounds are meticulously detailed, and it brings out a key element of realism.
The episodic design of the story isn't a conventional one. The writer uses the breaks to propel the story forward through the years, and it brings a broader context into play. Robinson explores a life, not just a character. The historical setting and criss-crossing plotlines bring complexity and intelligence to Guido's story. Robinson challenges the reader with the intricacies of Illegal Alien.
The story starts off in a science-fiction vein, but soon, it switches to crime, and then, to slice-of-life and again to espionage and politics. Robinson has filled this story with so much material, such strong characters and plotlines that one can't help but be taken with it. Guido, the quirky but charmingly innocent protagonist represents imagination and freedom. He may be alien, but he's a symbol of all that's good about humanity.
Note: This graphic novel was not among this week's new releases.
