From acclaimed writer Mark Russell (Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles, Billionaire Island) and artist Juan Doe comes a harrowing piece of existential science fiction in Vanishing Point #1, the first issue of Mad Cave’s new sci-fi anthology series. In this opening story, Russell pens a script with just the sort of illuminating and poignant writing we’ve come to expect from his work – but with more dread involved. Juan Doe’s visual work pulls readers in to this lonely piece of space terror, and the whole package makes for one of the most compelling pieces of sci-fi in the medium over the last few years.
“In “Screams”, the captain of a mining ship goes on a ten year solo mission to the Jupiter Asteroid Belt where he makes a horrifying discovery!
Vanishing Point is an anthology of short stories that are part science fiction and part existential horror. These are stories with a twist in which the twist is not the point of the story, but a beginning point from which to ask what it means to be alive.”
Writing & Plot
Great science fiction is almost always a discussion about the state of human society at a given point in time, and few writers comment on reality better than Mark Russell. The story for Vanishing Point #1, titled “Screams,” follows an space mining captain on a solo 10-year mission. As his mission progresses and he gets closer to his quota, he makes a harrowing discovery about the asteroids he’s harvesting. Russell has made his career about juxtaposing human nature with what capitalist society demands of people. Here, he captures the humanity of the captain and immediately makes the audience relate to his decision to work in isolation for 10 years. I never really pegged Russell as a science fiction writer, but here he nails the fundamentals of wat makes these stories important. His overhead narration is transfixing, almost poetic. This, combined with how he stitches scenes together, builds the story up to its jarring conclusion with masterful precision. “Screams” is unsurprisingly just as thematically relevant as any of Russell’s other works. The Captain’s mental journey as he does what he needs to provide for his family – whatever the cost – is something that is painfully poignant for our reality. Russell shows himself as a chameleon of genre writing, trading satire for phenomenal and relevant science fiction.
Art Direction
One of the most important measures of quality for a science fiction comic is how well it immerses the reader into its world and atmosphere. Vanishing Point #1 thankfully has the immense talent of Juan Doe crafting the space-drifting setting of “Screams.” His character animations and designs feel fittingly classical – like they were lifted from a Silver Age classic by the likes of Bradbury. The architecture of the ship, the retro-futurism of the onboard tech, and the alien wonder of the more “speculative” aspects all point to a bygone era of science fiction. Doe’s pacing carries the story along at a careful, tense pace, making the twists and revelations land with satisfying impact. As great as his pencils are, the real gem of the visual work here is Doe’s color art. Every panel is brought to life with a vivid feel thanks to Doe’s glowing, almost neon colors. Even the sequences full of space rocks and dull machinery still have a unique sort of energy to them due to how Doe both frames and fills the imagery. Finally, the lettering of Carlos M. Mangual finishes off the reading experience with a style that fits the story in stellar fashion. His word balloons are reminiscent of classic Silver Age style comics lettering, and his SFX work pops off of the page with explosions of color. Vanishing Point #1 is overall one of the most visually impressive sci-fi stories seen in recent comics.
Verdict
Vanishing Point #1 is an excellent opening chapter to Mad Cave’s new science fiction anthology series. Mark Russell’s script for “Screams” is every bit as poignant, relatable, and painfully human as a great sci-fi short should be, and exactly the sort of quality we’ve come to expect from the Flintstones writer. The visuals from Juan Doe are vivid and detailed, making for a reading experience that feels as tense as it does timeless. Be sure to grab this opening chapter when it hits shelves on May 7th!
