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SPACEMAN ONE SHOT
Recommended (8/10)
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Oni Press
Writer: Mike Allred
Artists: Mike Allred & Lawrence Marvit
Colors: Laura Allred
Letters: Blambot
Editor: Jamie S. Rich
Price: $2.95 US/$4.50 CAN |
Oni press offers up another color one-shot from Mike Allred. The last one -- It Girl -- was a nice bit of fun, but by teaming with artist Lawrence (Sparks) Marvit for this project, Allred's taken his familiar style to a whole new level. The story is a simple one -- more than a little obvious, actually -- but the art is a stunning mix of traditional comic art and painted work that calls out for multiple readings, just to appreciate the texture and detail of the backgrounds.
Mechanical problems force Spaceman to make an emergency landing on an alien planet. He and his robot sidekick venture out into a domed ruin in search of assistance, and instead, Spaceman finds himself embroiled in a civil war. The orange-skinned Qualls have stolen the idol of great power, and the green-skinned Dreggs are determined to get it back. Spaceman agrees to lead a team into the planet's subterreanean areas to retrieve the idol, but all is not as it seems.
Allred's eye for action and Silver Age design is as strong as ever. But what's different are the backgrounds. Marvit's paintings really jump off the page. The detailed, imaginative landscapes look as though they were prepared for animation purposes. The imagination, detail and irreverence of Marvit's work is awe-inspiring. The Allreds manage to incorporate their artwork into Marvit's almost seamlessly. Allred's work complements that of Marvit, and vice versa.
The tone of the book -- both visually and script-wise -- and the sci-fi elements remind me more than a little of Steve Conley's Astounding Space Thrills. Allred plays things a bit more straight than Conley does, though, but he nevertheless taps into the same sense of fun and adventure.
Allred fans won't be disappointed, and neither will younger readers, as this all-ages story is thoroughly accessible in tone. But the real treat for me was an introduction -- albeit an unconventional one -- to a remarkable new comics talent. I'd heard a great deal of buzz around Sparks, and based on this glimpse of his skills, I'd say Marvit is someone to watch for.
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
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