A colorful, fleet-footed SF tale of aliens, androids, and intergalactic travel.
In Cape’s graphic novel, late-21st-century Earth may be in danger of an alien attack.
Deep in the Mariana Trench, scientists discover a large, spectacular object in the ocean; they dub it HB-FLS-1, though the public takes to calling it the Hand of God. It emits a series of blinking lights that scientists translate as coordinates to a black hole–like anomaly. A spacecraft is sent through the anomaly into an unknown galaxy, which has twin planets likely capable of supporting life, and an alien vessel attacks seemingly without provocation. Was this all a test by an alien species to gauge Earth’s defenses? Another trip is planned through the anomaly, this time with android super-soldier Richter leading the mission. The International Space Exploration Authority wants to wipe out the alien species, even if it means killing innocent beings. Richter, however, may have a way to override his programming; perhaps if he can safely reach one of those twin planets, he’ll make his own choice. Cape’s graphic novel, which launches a series, builds on a smart, scientific foundation—the ISEA studies the HB-FLS-1 for quite some time before they send a spaceship into outer space. At the same time, an Earth-based cult that worships the HB-FLS-1 gives the narrative a gleeful boost of conflict (“We must be ready to sacrifice everything for our lord”). Richter makes for an enigmatic lead character; readers will be uncertain about what he’ll do on the alien planet. Standouts among the rest of the cast include Lt. Amanda Coni, a former model whose injury and resultant scar pushed her toward a military career and who takes part in the Richter-led mission, and Richter’s unassuming creator, Dr. Gnirut Gupta. This first volume ends with a stellar cliffhanger and hints at any number of directions that sequels might go. Fortin’s intricately detailed artwork shines with luminous oranges (planets, skies, and explosions) and energizes the book’s action sequences.
A colorful, fleet-footed SF tale of aliens, androids, and intergalactic travel.Pub Date: Sept. 22, 2026
ISBN: 9798992749908
Page Count: 166
Publisher: SHP Comics
Review Posted Online: Aug. 21, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Lush visuals bring this thoughtfully constructed tale to life.
Wondrous visitors encounter a desperate pocket of humanity.
Lori, a white orphaned teen who’s finally been adopted after bouncing around various foster homes, awakens to discover that nearly everyone has disappeared. The rapture? Maybe. She runs into her classmate Annette, who has brown skin and curly black hair, and they partner up to scavenge for food. The pair tries to evade several threats, such as the large Wolves and a gang called The Dogs. Supernatural Giants arrive, seemingly from space, speaking an impenetrable language of “musical chiming and weird bass-rhythms.” Lori and Annette then meet Beatrice, an older white woman who shares important observations about the Giants and Wolves. The tone of the story then subtly shifts from post-apocalyptic desperation to one that’s somewhat playful. After a certain point, a visual element that appears early on takes on clear significance and meaning in the context of the story at large, offering a subversively humorous twist for readers to consider and a creative element that deviates from other alien invasion narratives. Hans’ artwork and paneling fill each scene with wonders. An interaction with a giant sees the red, violet, and pink figure standing against a bright, otherworldly white-and-blue backdrop with dark contours. Elsewhere, Lori and Annette pause at night as they behold ominous shadows, their foggy breath forming clouds, and they hear a “KRRNCH” sound. The quick-moving plot wraps everything up neatly.
Lush visuals bring this thoughtfully constructed tale to life. (character designs) (Graphic science fiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Nov. 12, 2024
ISBN: 9781534387072
Page Count: 104
Publisher: Image Comics
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
Using modern language, McDonald spins the well-known tale of the two young, unrequited lovers. Set against Nagar’s at-times...
A bland, uninspired graphic adaptation of the Bard’s renowned love story.
Using modern language, McDonald spins the well-known tale of the two young, unrequited lovers. Set against Nagar’s at-times oddly psychedelic-tinged backgrounds of cool blues and purples, the mood is strange, and the overall ambiance of the story markedly absent. Appealing to what could only be a high-interest/low–reading level audience, McDonald falls short of the mark. He explains a scene in an open-air tavern with a footnote—“a place where people gather to drink”—but he declines to offer definitions for more difficult words, such as “dirges.” While the adaptation does follow the foundation of the play, the contemporary language offers nothing; cringeworthy lines include Benvolio saying to Romeo at the party where he first meets Juliet, “Let’s go. It’s best to leave now, while the party’s in full swing.” Nagar’s faces swirl between dishwater and grotesque, adding another layer of lost passion in a story that should boil with romantic intensity. Each page number is enclosed in a little red heart; while the object of this little nuance is obvious, it’s also unpleasantly saccharine. Notes after the story include such edifying tidbits about Taylor Swift and “ ‘Wow’ dialogs from the play” (which culls out the famous quotes).Pub Date: May 10, 2011
ISBN: 978-93-80028-58-3
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Campfire
Review Posted Online: April 5, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2011
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