Spaceman #3 – Review

By: Brian Azzarello (writer), Eduardo Risso (art), Trish Mulvihill, Clem Robins (letters), Mark Doyle & Will Dennis (editors), Dave Johnson (cover)

The Story: Now that our titular “spaceman” has rescued the little girl, he has to figure out what to do with her.

Five Things: 

1. The nuspeak is very cleverly done. – The nuspeak adds a LOT of flavor to Spaceman.  Not only is it a subtle way to make it clear on every page that THIS world is not OUR world, but it also leaves a lot to the imagination.  For example, the characters often use the phrase “braining” to mean “thinking”.  But, consider how many synonyms we have for “thinking”: considering, concentrating, speculating, etc.  They all mean roughly the same thing, but not exactly the same thing.  So, when Azzarello uses a word like “braining” he creates a mushy spot for our imagination to work and we get to speculate on what precisely he means.  It’s like in a prose novel where you guess what characters look like or sound like.  Lots of creators feel like they need to show/tell us everything, but comics are always better when they invite the reader to use their imagination to fill in some intentional gaps.

2. Seeing another Spaceman gives it an Elephantmen vibe. – Towards the end of this issue, another Spaceman pops up and he’s clearly taken a very different path in life since whatever “event” changed this world.  Our protagonist is POOR and seeks out a living digging up things from sunken downtown areas.  The other Spaceman seems wealthy and willing to use his genetic advantages to his benefit.  Clearly these two characters have a past and it reminds me a LOT of the dynamics among the central characters in the Elephantmen series (which is outstanding).

3. Things look bleak for our protagonist. – Maybe it’s a little telegraphed, but the protagonist’s plan (Hide the kidnapped girl at your home until it’s “safe”) isn’t going to work well.  But, even though it is telegraphed, our protagonist doesn’t seem that intelligent, so you kinda cringe the whole time as he’s making what is surely a big mistake.  “GAH!  The dimwitted spaceman kidnapped the little girl!  Did he touch her!?!”

WCBR’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Daredevil #7 – What a nice change of pace this issue was!  It featured an injured Matt Murdock stranded in a snowstorm with a bunch of blind kids.  You have to take some leaps of faith on the story (i.e. Why how has DD thrived in NYC all these years if snow is his mortal enemy?), but it was touching and uplifting to see Matt/DD doing something very out of the norm for a superhero.  The art was also incredible.  As much as everyone is talking about “Mark Waid’s Daredevil run…”, they should really be giving at least as much credit to Paolo Rivera and the now departed Marcos Martin.  They’ve had just as much to do with the new, lighter tone of the book.

Most Anticipated: American Vampire #22 – After a three-issue flashback story arc that some reviewers didn’t love (but I thought was quite good), we go back to “normal” with a story arc set in the 1950’s.  Rafael Albuquerque is back on art!  Yay!  And I can’t wait to see how Scott Snyder is using he batch of characters from the WWII arcs.  Will it be the same vampires we’ve come to know and love?  Will the humans be old by now?  What’ll be new in the world of vampires?  Can’t wait!

Other Picks: Spaceman #3, The Unwritten #32.5, Witch Doctor: Resuscitation One-Shot, Secret Avengers #20, Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #8

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Daredevil #7 – I have to say I quite enjoyed Waid’s interludish Daredevil #7 of the blind leading the blind pulling the blind. Well worth checking out.

Most Anticipated: Warlord of Mars #14 – I’d been hoping for a Barsoom book last week, but I guess I was just impatient. This week, we’re into the second installment of the Gods of Mars in Warlord of Mars #14. Carter and Tars Tarkas together in the valley of death!

Other Picks: Captain America and Bucky #625, Captain America #6, The Mighty Thor #9, Uncanny X-Men #3, X-Men Legacy #260, Captain Victory #2

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: PunisherMAX #20 – While it was tempting to give the title to this week’s issue of Invincible Iron Man, PunisherMAX was ultimately just the better comic.  A gripping read throughout with disturbing and psychological character-work mesh with brutal and amazingly choreographed action.

Most Anticipated: Spaceman #3 – Normally I trade-wait when it comes to minis, but last week I caved on Spaceman and picked up the first couple of issues.  While it certainly will appeal more to some readers than others, I truly love this book.  Azzarello and Risso have grafted a fantastic world here, a dirty, dystopian future that has a distinctively “European comics” feel.  A fantastic book and one where writer and artist carry equal loads.

Other Picks: I, Vampire #4, Uncanny X-Men #3,  The Flash #4, Captain America #5, Captain America #6, American Vampire #22, FF #13, Aquaman #4, Mighty Thor #9