By Simon Dixon
These last few years Image comics have been releasing a steady and impressive stream of new titles. Ranging from crazy sci-fi epics like “Saga”, to twists on the classic superhero genre like “Bounce”. A lot of these new series have been relatively good, but every once in a while a new series comes along that is head and shoulders above the rest; this time it’s Black Science. This book sits safely at the top of the pile of best new comics to be released this year.
Written by Rick Remender with art by Matteo Scalera and Dean White this dark and gritty sci-fi epic is something different and unique while retaining the classic themes that make a great sci-fi story.
Right off the bat we are dropped straight into the action; our main character Grant runs through a forest desperately trying to escape the creatures chasing him. Along with him is a member of his group Jen. They’re trying to make it back to their group; they only have a small amount of time left. The way Remender writes this whole scene you can feel the sense of panic that the characters are going through. You can feel it in the way they speak and through the way that Matteo Scalera illustrates them. It immediately draws you into the story and gives you a connection to the characters. You already feel for them before you even know them. He grabs you and never lets you go.
The whole story feels like a dark, creepy and pulse jumping story from a classic pulp magazine. Like a taste of a classic piece of sci-fi. Remender teases us throughout the entire issue; giving us all the information about where Grant has been and where he is going, what he’s been through and who he is. While also navigating you through an intense action sequence that sets up the story for issues to come. He does it in such a way that you don’t feel overloaded with information but you feel like you absorb it naturally while proceeding with the fast pace of the issue. This is probably the best first issue to a book I have ever read.
By the end of the issue I feel like I’ve been given all the information I need to progress in the story and I didn’t even know it was happening! That’s the mark of a great introduction. It sets us up for the journey we are beginning and teases us with an overarching theme we can sink our teeth into. The end of the issue is perfect and has me extremely excited for the next instalment.
The story isn’t the only amazing thing about this issue; the art is some of the nicest I’ve ever laid eyes on. At once it both excites and scares you with its darkness. It’s a visual masterpiece that pulls you and adds greatly to the fast paced feeling of the book. Every page is beautifully laid out with every panel bursting with exciting detail which adds to the realism of the story. From disgusting monsters to forests sitting on the back of giant turtles; everything is nothing less than a joy to look at. The detail fills you with so much understanding while bringing up so many questions about the world our characters inhabit.
This issue is a masterpiece of storytelling in both the writing and the art. It grabs you from the very get go and rushes you through an exciting yet scary adventure that ends with the start of the next. It sets up the series perfectly and leaves you excited for more. Do yourself a favour and go and buy this book! You will not regret it!
Story/Writing – 5/5
Art – 5/5
Overall – 5/5
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Posted on November 29th, 2013
Category: REVIEWS, WRITER'S BLOCK
Tags: Black Science #1 Review, Dean White, Image Comics, Matteo Scalera, Rick Remender, Sc-Fi Comics