What To Read?

Science Fiction Comics For Non-Science Fiction and/or Comic Fans

By Rebecca Buchanan
August 1, 2006

Yes, there is a comic for everyone. It's just a matter of finding the right comic. In the case of Science Fiction comics, there is a title for every taste — sometimes more than one title. Have a cousin who conscientiously recycles and counts the mileage on her car? There's a Sci Fi comic for her. A Classic Lit fan in the family? No worries. A Golden Age film buff? Yep, got that, too. A Fantasy fan who turns his nose up at anything techy? No problem.

For the Apollo 13 fan: Astronauts In Trouble (AIT/PlanetLAR) features espionage, betrayal, narrow escapes, big explosions, retro tech and glorious moonscapes. This volume collects three adventures: Live From the Moon (world's richest SOB tries to lay claim to the moon), Space 1959 (secret lunar plot) and One Shot, One Beer (stories at the moon's only bar). Great art, great characters, great one-liners.

For the Power Puff Girls fan: Emily and the Intergalactic Lemonade Stand (Amaze Ink) is about a little girl, her lemonade stand, her robot, and her arch-rival — who also acquires a robot of her own. Oh, and a cute little alien who turns out to be a ferocious warrior. Frenetic fun.

For the anthropology major: Fauna (Zack Gardner) is an odd little story about a town in which everyone is required to wear animal gear: a turtle shell or fox ears. Fascinating examination of self-identity, and the lengths individuals will go to be individuals. Finder (Lightspeed Press) is set on a far future Earth of domed cities, sentient cats, and genetically-pure, isolationist human clans. Follow Jaeger as he explores this awesome landscape.

For The X-Files fan: Middleman (Viper) is a wild, funny, scary trip. The Middleman handles crisis beyond the abilities of the usual authorities to take care of — like dimensional breaches and intelligent mafioso apes. Planetary (Wildstorm) follows the exploits of Archeologists of the Impossible, uncovering the "hidden history" of the twentieth century. Part wild conspiracy theory, part homage to pulp fiction and super heroes; intelligent, exciting, beautifully illustrated.

For the Wells and Verne fans: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (ABC) asks the question: what if all those great nineteenth century literary characters were real? Alan Quartermain, the Invisible Man, Mina Harker, Captain Nemo, and others are (reluctantly) recruited by the British government to stop an evil plot by Moriarty. The second volume finds the team battling a Martian invasion. Scarlet Traces (Dark Horse), by a different creative team, takes place a decade after the Martian invasion. Having harvested all that advanced Martian technology, Britain is now the world's sole super power — but at what cost? Frightening.

For the ecology major: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (Viz) is set on a toxic post-apocalyptic Earth. Young Nausicaa may hold the key to bringing peace and healing to the world. Prescient, beautiful, heart-breaking. Neotopia (Antarctic), also set on a post-apcalyptic Earth, finds the peaceful people of Mathenia fighting for their lives — and their nature-oriented way of life — against the greedy Emperors of Krossos. Soulwind (Oni) is a mythologically-rich, complex tale of aliens, time travel, Arthurian lore and Buddhism — which ultimately reveals the lost soul of the world.

For the Han Solo fan: Serenity: Those Left Behind (Dark Horse) is only one volume to-date, but fan pressure may result in more stories. A corrupt, authoritarian Alliance; a young girl with tremendous psychic abilities; and the ragtag band of smugglers and ex-rebels who take her in. Terrific characters, witty dialogue, wonderful artwork. Runners (Serve Man Press) finds another ragtag band of smugglers (this time mostly aliens) helping a girl on the run. Great black-and-white art, a wild chase sequence, and an intriguing mystery.

For the Clerks fan: The Adventures of Barry Ween (Oni) is nominally science fiction — after all, it involves a boy genius and his many adventures, including interdimensional travel. Not for children; lots of raunchy humor and four letter words. But, if you like that kind of thing, its absolutely hilarious. Transmetropolitan (DC/Vertigo) is set in an ugly over-populated world where the sole voice of reason and sanity belongs to a bespectacled, tattooed journalist named Spider Jerusalem. Shocking, mind-opening.

For the Metropolis fan: Terminal City (DC/Vertigo) is set in a what if? interbellum world of great dirigibles, robots, mobsters, espionage and wannabe pulp heroes. Complicated tale with a large cast; not a fast read, and lots and lots of fun.

For the Doc Savage fan: Rocketo (Image) is set in a strange, weird, pulpish future world. The surface of the Earth has been completely remade. New species populate sea and land: sirens, ferocious Tigermen, Silentmen. This is the world of the Mappers, brave men like Rocketo Garrison who dare the unknown places off the edge of the map, who dare to expand humanity's knowledge of the world. Here be monsters.

For the Wild, Wild West fan: Daisy Kutter (Viper) is a steampunk tale of betrayal, lies, loyalty, card sharks, robots and train robbing. When Daisy is offered one last job — one big job — she reluctantly accepts, even though she has a very bad feeling .... She should have listened to her gut ....

For the fantasy fan: Meridian and Scion were both published by the now-defunct CrossGen; but they are worth tracking down if you can find them. Both series blur the line between sci fi and fantasy, and so should appeal to hardcore fans of the latter. Meridian, set on a world of floating islands, follows the adventures of young Sephie who must protect her people from her avaricious uncle. Scion is set on a world divided between east and west; when a ritual duel goes terribly wrong, Prince Ethan finds himself a slave — and the only person who can bring peace and justice to his world.

So, there you have them. A few — a very few — of the many great science fiction comics that are out there, waiting. (And I didn't even go into detail about Fray, Astro, Galaxion, Avigon, Flight, Sigil, Crossovers, Decoy .... Maybe these titles won't convert the non-Science Fiction fan or the non-comic fan — but they are certainly your best shot.