Review: Cosmic Debris #2
How about a return to the sci-fi Space Opera romance story with partners in crime, cyber buddies, a villain with looks that scream evil, world ending stones and a breakfast that would make fibre no longer an issue? Well it's issue 2 of Cosmic Debris from Stu Perrins, J.E Murphy and Rob Jones with additional colouring from K. Murphy.
At CBNUK, we enjoyed Cosmic Debris issue 1 for its strong start and potential for further exploits, earning a solid 4/5 stars. We'll have a quick reminder of the creative team for this one before we get into it.
First, it's writer Stu Perrins, British comic award and ComicScene Award-nominated creator with previous works including Brightside, Megatomic Battle Rabbit and, of course, Chrono-Cat. Stu is joined again by artist John E. Murphy, the co-creator of Cosmic Debris, a Flash Gordan and Star Trek fan, California-based volcano lair dwelling psychonaut. John is joined by co-colourist Karly Murphy, a writer and photographer with a preference for cats. Last but by no level least is master letterer Rob Jones, who hass popped up a few times at CBNUK but is most known for working with the likes of Image, Heavy Metal, BHP (with Killtopia), Humanoids, Scout Comics, Behemoth, and DC Thomson to name a few, and let's not forget co-writing the excellent Hell In Stalingrad. Now for a review.
So, let's start with the art. It's a return to duties for John E. Murphy. John's art has made large strides in quality since issue 1, with a much more polished affair being presented this time and an overall look of an artist growing in confidence. The perspective work on landscape still shines strongest, but there's certainly an improvement on character perspective, a better weighted bag for sure. The character design is another of John's strong gifts, and the extra polished version of Shrek Orlock grows as the epitome of villainous aesthetics.
As with the previous issue, it's the cover star that steals the show, with Newtone Shore shining as a paragon for dreamscape, consciousness mapping traveller vibes. When the visuals get bonkers, John's art embraces it and enriches it.
Like the art, the colours on this one pop brighter and are delivered with a more accomplished grace. It does a great job in selling this art, often elevating above ordinary and standing out again in its application to Newton. Karly Murphy may well be praised for efforts made. Whoever is responsible for the highlight work on colours deserves a big pat on the back.
Last, for art, it's Rob Jones stepping up with the professional delivery we love and expect. Clever font choices, well placed bubbles and boxes and that idealistic balance of clear and accompanying to the overall art. Top-notch stuff.
Overall, the art is growing on this one with room for further improvement, but is already making huge strides in the right direction, and it is certainly worth looking forward to.
Storytime, then. Stu Perrins starts issue two with a plot shift. With the strong universe-building groundwork laid out from issue one, it's time for some foundations. Stu establishes a strong context for Randall and O'Hara's relationship through a clever guise of Randall's relationship to Cleaves. It's a bit of a two-for-one and is a well written device to flesh out our main protagonists and get us more invested in those lovable rogues.
Simultaneously, the narrative provides a great vehicle to throw up some more bonkers universe building fodder - the running of the unicorns being my favourite example. Things are certainly more bonkers and psychedelic in this issue, which makes sense given the introduction of the new character Newton Shore The Dreamwalker. It's a bit silly, definitely fun and certainly more intriguing than these endearing rapscallions.
The ending brings things crashing back to terra firma with a reminder of the larger plot and developing the nefarious activities. Stu continues to build an enticing offering in this universe and its inhabitants, and issue two solidifies this main cast as characters to be invested in as they continue to develop. There's enough intrigue to leave you wanting more now that we're standing on strong foundations.
For fans of sci-fi, space operas, romance, cyber buddies, mermaid armies, unicorns, odin, floating volcanoes, big space worms, hallucinogenic belly juices, quests for Shrek Orlock and The Phasma Stone to wipe criminal past slates clean, child delivered Thermonuclear breakfast options and unwelcome tips for cabbies in bloody well-coloured art from a volcano dwelling psychonaut whose art continues to grow in presentation, then try out Cosmic Debris #2.
Copies currently only exist digitally and are available through Amazon, or Markosia DriveThruComics. For more on the creatives, the best place to start is Twitter @spacedustflux, where you'll find links to everyone involved.
Rating: A strong step in the right direction 4.2/5
