Comic Book Review – Black Science #1

Black Science #1

Written by: Rick Remender

Art by: Matteo Scalera

Colors by: Dean White

 

Every decision ripples. Waves sent through time affecting our tomorrows. Moments set in motion years in advance.

Some good. Some bad.

All attached with “what-ifs.”

The pain of our faulty decisions is a weight that’s never lifted. It rests on our shoulders forever whispering in our ears. Reminding us of what we’ve done. Reminding us not to do it again. Black Science is the beginning of Grant McKay’s reminder. A realm jumping scientist who realizes before its too late that he’s made some bad decisions. Decisions that can’t be undone and only unravel further as he tries to bind the broken in a race to prevent catastrophe.

Rick Remender crafts a tale heavy with burden and despair as he engulfs the reader in a sci-fi wonderland. The story being narrated by McKay’s inner monologue is a superb choice as we slowly learn that a tortured soul can still be a hero in dire straits. Even with the guided missteps haunting him, Grant McKay pushes on to save his children and colleagues from an explosive demise. And that’s what makes this issue so great. It would have been easy for Remender to hit us with heavy scientific ideas and terms, but he didn’t, we get honest emotion in an unrealistic setting and it works brilliantly. The hectic and kinetic pace of this issue is controlled by the narration and dialogue take the reader on the rollercoaster ride that the main character is going through. However, nothing in this issue feels rushed or squandered. Each frog with an electric tongue and floating turtle with a pyramid on its back has its place within the quiet and chaotic.

The other-worldly art created by Matteo Scalera and Dean White is truly that. Scalera’s designs are exactly what you want to see in a story that takes place in another dimension. The frog people have bulbous bellies that carry weight and the terrains feel familiar but still alien. There is great variation with panel layouts which feeds into the anxiety that Remender is weaving. Quiet panels feel quiet and crazy panels feel crazy — motion and energy continuously flow from page to page keeping with the books pace. Team all of that with Dean White’s painted colors that give this book its life and you’ve got an amazing collection of art.

Review Score: 7 (out of 7)

Thoughts? Leave a comment below or on Twitter (@theprophetlen)

 

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