Rogue Planet #1 Review
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Andy Mcdonald
Colours: Nick Filardi
Letters: Crank!
Note: This is an advance review of Rogue Planet #1 which releases on May 27th
Rogue Planet #1 is the first issue in a new sci-fi horror comic from Cullen Bunn. We follow salvage vessel Cortés as it navigates is way towards a rogue planet in search of a payload. There are definite echoes of the Nostromo crew from the original Alien movie here, there’s a familiarity and world weariness amongst the crew which makes them feel more real and human. For anyone worried that this is just going to be a rip off of that classic don’t, the planet, the aliens, all have a unique take on them.
Bunn invests the story with a load of little details which manage to separate it from just the standard sci-fi fare. He has a unique take on how hypersleep work, with members of the crew acting as mindless drones to keep the ship running. There are also a few twists and turns to keep us on our toes. It’s early days in this story but if this first issue is any indication every time the reader thinks they know what’s going on the carpet will be pulled out from under their feet.
Once the crew have reached planetside the tension keeps building as they explore, looking for their salvage. The reader is aware that something is seriously wrong here, and keeps shouting for the crew to go back to the ship, to get off the planet. But of course the crew blunder on, mindless of the danger they face.
The alien/monster on the planet, while only briefly introduced, is an interesting creation and I look forward to learning more about it.
Andy McDonald’s art is really good here, he manages to create another planet which feels suitably alien, at turns desolate and barren, at others strangely beautiful. The characters all have unique looks which help separate them at this early part of the story before we get to know them well. Then there’s the alien monster design. We learn more from its appearance than the story tells us, and it is suitably horrific and gruesome. McDonald does a great job of bringing the horror towards the end of the issue, when it does happen it’s suitably quick and overpowering.
Nick Filardi’s colours do a good job of making the rogue planet feel alien. The colours, familiar enough to be recognisable, are also different enough to let us know we aren’t on Earth. There are lights in the sky which have shades of the Northern Lights, but again different enough so we know we’re on another planet. A key part of a good horror story is how well the colours are done, and Filardi pulls it off with ease.
While only the debut issue in this story it does a great job of introducing the crew, the rogue planet, and the basic premise. The Cortés has a Nostromo flavour to it which helps settle the reader into the story, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
Artist: Andy Mcdonald
Colours: Nick Filardi
Letters: Crank!
Note: This is an advance review of Rogue Planet #1 which releases on May 27th
Rogue Planet #1 is the first issue in a new sci-fi horror comic from Cullen Bunn. We follow salvage vessel Cortés as it navigates is way towards a rogue planet in search of a payload. There are definite echoes of the Nostromo crew from the original Alien movie here, there’s a familiarity and world weariness amongst the crew which makes them feel more real and human. For anyone worried that this is just going to be a rip off of that classic don’t, the planet, the aliens, all have a unique take on them.
Bunn invests the story with a load of little details which manage to separate it from just the standard sci-fi fare. He has a unique take on how hypersleep work, with members of the crew acting as mindless drones to keep the ship running. There are also a few twists and turns to keep us on our toes. It’s early days in this story but if this first issue is any indication every time the reader thinks they know what’s going on the carpet will be pulled out from under their feet.
Once the crew have reached planetside the tension keeps building as they explore, looking for their salvage. The reader is aware that something is seriously wrong here, and keeps shouting for the crew to go back to the ship, to get off the planet. But of course the crew blunder on, mindless of the danger they face.
The alien/monster on the planet, while only briefly introduced, is an interesting creation and I look forward to learning more about it.
Andy McDonald’s art is really good here, he manages to create another planet which feels suitably alien, at turns desolate and barren, at others strangely beautiful. The characters all have unique looks which help separate them at this early part of the story before we get to know them well. Then there’s the alien monster design. We learn more from its appearance than the story tells us, and it is suitably horrific and gruesome. McDonald does a great job of bringing the horror towards the end of the issue, when it does happen it’s suitably quick and overpowering.
Nick Filardi’s colours do a good job of making the rogue planet feel alien. The colours, familiar enough to be recognisable, are also different enough to let us know we aren’t on Earth. There are lights in the sky which have shades of the Northern Lights, but again different enough so we know we’re on another planet. A key part of a good horror story is how well the colours are done, and Filardi pulls it off with ease.
While only the debut issue in this story it does a great job of introducing the crew, the rogue planet, and the basic premise. The Cortés has a Nostromo flavour to it which helps settle the reader into the story, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.
A Look Inside
