Spaceman is something of a throwback, a pulp science-fiction story with a simplistic morality and a predictable plot, and it may surprise those who came looking for the edgy and gritty Mike Allred whose work defines X-Statix. However, while the characterization is less than subtle, Allred does make his protagonists and antagonists interesting enough, and those in the market for an old-fashioned super-hero space opera may find this right up their alley. The real star of the show is the artwork, however, as Allred's work atop Marvit's painted backgrounds gives this book a unique look, almost more like animation than comics, and helps convey the sense of fun and wonder that is essential to making the story work.
I haven't read The Atomics, and I found that to be a huge downside to the previous one-shot from Oni and AAA Pop Press, It Girl, but it isn't as much of a problem here. Spaceman is outside of his normal realm, and that means the other characters have a reason to spout out who he is and what he does, and he seems to be a space hero in the vein of Adam Strange or Flash Gordon, familiar archetypes who will make every reader immediately comfortable with the idea of who the character is.
Allred also tells a fairly straightforward story in this issue, introducing two alien races battling over a power source, although neither of them is what they appear to be. Anyone who has read this type of science-fiction story before (and if you're reading comics, you probably have) will see the "twist" coming a mile away, but it's still a great deal of fun. I appreciate that Spaceman's solution to the dilemma is less violent and judgmental than many heroes would be, even if it asks us to accept a lot more intelligence and wisdom on the parts of both races than is usually found.
Where the story really excels, though, is in its look. Marvit's name has gotten a lot of buzz given his work on Sparks (a title which is on my short list for future reading), and I can see why his artwork would draw such attention. His work on this book is fully painted, and it stands out as lush and imaginative, more like the type of painted backgrounds you'd see in Samurai Jack or other cartoons than in the average comic. With Allred's figure work existing on top of these backgrounds, the story pops off the page, but it doesn't look out of place. This issue has a bright and alien look to it that is perfect for the story, and Laura Allred's colors alongside Marvit's painted colors are simply perfect.
I found Spaceman to hearken back to the pulp science-fiction stories of the 1930s and 40s, with an innocent morality, a low-tech approach to high-technology and a look that seems more beautiful and flawless than our actual future is likely to appear. With the quirkiness of Madman but a more kid-friendly approach, this strikes me as an ideal read for younger readers, but it's also great for anyone who hasn't lost their childlike sense of wonder.
