Comics! Spaceman #1-3

Spaceman #1-3

 by Azzarello & Risso

The Comics
This story is about a group of forgotten Spacemen. The Spacemen were bred by science specifically to survive a mission to Mars. Cast out after the fall of NASA, we meet up with our main character Orson who passes the time through getting high and getting cyber-laid. Then a rich reality show couple's adopted child gets kidnapped for a rich, perverted prick who hopes to do some nasty things to the child. Then Orson happens upon the boat she is being held on, and rescues her. Orson tells the child that she must keep quite so he can sneak her back to her family. He doesn't want everyone to find out who she is, but they do.

That's the first three issues in a nutshell. Its got the kind of story that I like to hear in a comic book. The comic is from the same team that brought you 100 Bullets. The first issue was only a buck. Considering the fact that I love this creative team, it was a good deal.

Azzarello loves to have no captions in anything. You have to get the feel from the change in the art that times and places are different. While this does work to Azzarello's strengths at points, it can be disorienting to a new reader. The cover says its for mature readers, but I think there is only going to be a very specific, very small audience that this book will reach. There is an interesting premise, and I almost think that with a few more words to the book, this would be a home run.

The art in the book is great. Risso has a way to have floating panels in the book, but shows enough in the transitions between them that your eyes can follow along easily. And when he is given his time to shine, he does it with such precision, such detail that you can't help but love it.

The Covers
All the covers are done by an artist other than Risso, and it shows. They are good, but I would almost prefer Risso do the work. I like how the title stands out and the coloring is good. The cover reflects the story in a thematic way, but it is missing something. It is definitely one of the covers that will easily catch your eye as you browse through the comic shelves.

Grades
Words: 9/10 - spelling words phonetically and in a crazy, cool kinda future Idiocracy way is enjoyable to me.
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: If you like Azzarello and loved 100 Bullets and want a Warren Ellis kind of story, this would be for you.
Buy Next Issue: Bought the first three, only 6 more to go to complete the series. Unless this takes a downward shift, count me in.