COLD SPACE #1 & #2

Writers: Samuel L. Jackson, Eric Calderon

Artwork: Jeremy Rock (pencils & Inks), Juan Manual Tumburus (colour)

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Greg's Review:

        I WANT to like this series … but I’m struggling! Cold Space # 1 is a mixed bag in terms of both the story and the art.

The story is classic space opera [nothing wrong with that as such] but not particularly innovative to start off with – or so far, anyway, to the end of issue 1.

The character of Mulberry, a definitive Samuel L. Jackson look-alike, is a space merchant that some, especially the Galactic Police [I’m assuming that is what “GP” on page 2 stands for], might call a “space pirate”. However he is not presented as a particularly likeable or even un-likable character. We just don’t get any major clues to his character and by the end of issue 1 we are starting to have serious doubts, especially when he turns into the clichéd cigar-smoking thug. [Surely – by the year 4012 – smoking has become passé, even to crims and other random thugs.]

Mulberry has proved to be a resourceful character who just wants to be left alone to go about his “business” – whatever that is. But … “life just ain’t like that, buddy!”

In anticipation of what is to come in the 2nd issue, we keep hoping that Mulberry will somehow turn the tables on the “evil-doers” rather than join them, but that is mainly because we relate to the character of Samuel L. Jackson himself, an icon of heroism through the characters he has portrayed in his movies.

         Fortunately for the series, issue 2 has finally fulfilled some of our anticipations and preferred expectations of this reader. The story is taking twists and turns that could not be anticipated, and we seem to be seeing a dark hero emerge. The others characters are collectively either a bunch of clichés or a set of intriguing unknown. As well there are a number of mysteries developing, plot-wise, that gives us heart to buy issues 3 & 4 or hold off and buy the inevitable trade paperback.

If there were any doubts that the character of Mulberry is a SLJ look-alike, the cover of Cold Space # 2A [by Dave Johnson] – an elegant little gem of simplicity – dispels all doubt.

         The art is, like the writing, a mixed bag. The draftsmanship lacks detail and as such says (to me anyway) that the artist was either in a big rush or unsure of the world he was creating. The use of linework to indicate movement is, at best, annoying and very cliché, at worst. There is too much blank space behind the main images that gives no visual information to the reader/viewer as to the places we are taken to. To reference what I mean, why not look at the work of the superb draughtsmen Warren Ellis uses for his comics? Gianluca Pagliarani (in the two “Wolfskin” series and the 5-parter “Ignition City”), Juan José Ryp (in the 7-parter “No Hero” – refer my review of # 1 elsewhere on this website), Fecundio Percio (in both 5-part “Anna Mercury” series) – these are exquisite executers of their art.

Jeremy Rock relies too much on orthographic representation [where elements are drawn like the 2-D elevations of a building] rather than rely on the reality of perspective. It’s not like the artist can’t use 3-D; many of his panel prove this. As an example of orthographic representation that causes confusion, look at the panel at the top of page 3, the centrally located space ship is seen in 2-D while the surrounding ones are seen in 3-D. It is the central one that is significant to the story, as the bay is opening to allow the access elements for boarding Mulberry’s vessel to emerge. This ship is the one that should have been viewed 3-dimensionally so that we could see what was actually happening. The only clue to any movement on the central ship is the “ZRRRRRR” lettering next to one of the bay doors.

Having said all this, I must add that there are many fine panels in these two issues. I love the opening full-page of issue 1 and also the one on page 6 that shows Mulberry’s resourcefulness.

The story-telling skills of the artist are good, generally, apart from a few slip-ups. As I’ve already mentioned above, there’s the bay-door opening scene in the top panel on page 3.

Mulberry’s a right-hander yet kicks with his left foot in a poorly drawn top panel on page 8. It looks like he is kicking with his right foot due to lack of delineation rather than with his left foot (as we can determine only by checking out Mulberry’s toes). A thicker ink line down Mulberry’s right leg may have helped pull the leg forward visually, thus helping distinguish it more clearly from the left.

         The colour, by Juan Manuel Tumburús, while elegantly simple, is totally appropriate to the settings and moods of the story.

!

Story: *** (out of 5)

Artwork: *** (out of 5)

Concept: *** (out of 5)

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