Review: Spaceboy & the Future King #1
How about a comic series featuring a young Arthur, UFOs, dragons, and a 5th Centry Bat-Man? Well, SPACEBOY & THE FUTURE KING #1 by Rory Donald is a new three-part all-ages series featuring exactly that, and it will be funded through Kickstarter.
SPACEBOY & THE FUTURE KING is about the adventures of a young Arthur, who is destined to one day become king, and his fellow villagers in Tintagel, North Cornwall. Arthus is bored, but he has a new strange friend, Merlin, who is bound to liven up young Arthurs days.
Starting with the art, I was a little apprehensive going in, as Rory mentioned that he was trying something a bit different. I've read a few comics that he's drawn, and I love his usual style. Thankfully, this style is just as nice and I'm still very much a fan. There's significantly less shadowing and more rounded lines. Now we have a style that's perfectly suited to an all-ages comic. And when compared to previous works, it's still unmistakably similar, just with a few tweaks to match the comic type.
The colour palette is soft and earthy with the occasional pop of colour when needed, like with a fire. It's a story set in the past, and the colours involve a more naturalistic setting compared to comics set in modern times. The line work is fluid and somewhat loose, giving the characters and the environment an organic and dynamic feel. There's also some wonderful perspective work.
As for the story, it's delightful to read a comic set so close to where I live - Tingalel is stunning. This also means we get some local South West terms that I've heard most of my life, like geddon, proper job and calling people "my lovely". Aside from that, it's cool to see a very different Arthur story to what we've seen before. There are a few whimsical moments and stage setting for the next two issues, which all adds to the fun.
SPACEBOY & THE FUTURE KING features Arthur at an age when his imagination can run wild, and everyone seems to enjoy his childish nature. This might be a world where dragons exist, but that doesn't mean that everything else is as it seems. There might be things from space, or it might just be a child's dreams and imagination.
There are some fun characters, like Nerdal, the Bat-Man, who tests out some wings. No one thinks he'll be able to fly or glide apart from Arthur, who patiently waits for this return whilst everyone else thinks he's perished. Meanwhile, a Chinese ship sinks thanks to a dragon dropping food onto their boat, and Arthur encounters a being that may or may not be from space. Will he survive or suffer like everyone else? Well, given it's only the first issue, we know he'll survive, but who doesn't love a bit of drama leading into issue two?
Overall, SPACEBOY & THE FUTURE KING #1 is a delightful start to what promises to be an enchanting series. With its unique blend of Arthurian legend, whimsical characters, and imaginative storytelling, it captures the essence of childhood wonder with a story and artwork that will appeal to everyone. It's fun with a sprinkling of silly moments, funnies and drama thrown together with beautiful art, making it a must-read for all ages. It's a series that I'm really looking forward to finishing because it's so much fun. You'll want to make sure you check this out on Kickstarter.
Rating: 4.5/5
