Mike@Pilots Chamber
07-20-2010, 12:50 PM
Well, after much confusion (thought it'd be a five-issue arc, with the first issue being issue #0), we have our first arc of the Scorpy comics. And what a comic we have!
Following the events of "The Beginning Of The End Of The Beginning", Scorpius has been banished from Hyneria. Going into self-imposed exile on an ice planet, he begins to wonder when he will actually serve some masters that are worthy of him, while ruminating with his pet lizard he's named John. The PKs signed a deal with his nemesis, the Scarrans. Rygel, upon reassuming his throne, cast him out. Until a dog-like race called the Grennij descened upon his home. Scorpy seems the Grennij - they seem primitive, but their ships are anything but - and realises they're an advance force for someone else. With a little bit of cunning and balls, Scorpius becomes their guide. He discovers that the Grennij are preparing for an invasion by the Kkore - a mysterious race which inhabit a region of space which only opens every 25 cycles. After killing the captain and assuming his command, Scorpius' audacity in battle earns him an audience with the Kkore themselves. Following much discussion and mind-probing (or lack thereof - Scorpy's Scarran training helps in this case), the Kkore decide to keep him on as advisor - so long as he shares everything in his mind. The final scene shows Scorpius strapped into a Kkore aurora chair, willingly giving every memory to his new masters - or does he?
Firstly, this comic is remarkable. The pacing of it is brilliant - each comic is a different part of the story. The opening of the comic is eerily reminiscent of Disney/Pixar's Wall-e in that there is no speech. There doesn't need to be. Which makes Scorpius seem all the more twisted, his loneliness weighing on him.
The Kkore are different - the Grennij themselves are well-defined, but I do like the idea of the Kkore actually being physically very large rather than standard human size.
The artwork can't fail to impress - Mike Ruiz and Nolan Woodard do an excellent job on the ice planet (I do like the more rough feel of it), the lighting and shading, and Scorpy's memories and flashbacks. The cannon scene is also great. Just one thing though - when Scorpy first goes into the aurora chair, I don't recognise the bottom-left image of a woman with an explosion behind her. Nevertheless, we don't know Scorpy's full back story.
Covers - I've got 0A (great montage), 1A (again, good though Scorpius looks a bit gimp-like), 2A (I don't normally like shots that could come from the comic story itself, but this is a good one) and 3A (Scorpy in chair - looks good but would've preferred something else).
The story itself is also good - not full of action, but a lot of plots and politicking. Script is great, especially Scorpius' thoughts and significant parts of his past.
Overall, this is up there with the best Farscape comics. Excellent artwork, a great plot that clearly sets Scorpius back up as a major player and brilliant pacing. 5 out of 5.
EDIT - dammit, messed up the poll for the top option. Sorry everyone!
Following the events of "The Beginning Of The End Of The Beginning", Scorpius has been banished from Hyneria. Going into self-imposed exile on an ice planet, he begins to wonder when he will actually serve some masters that are worthy of him, while ruminating with his pet lizard he's named John. The PKs signed a deal with his nemesis, the Scarrans. Rygel, upon reassuming his throne, cast him out. Until a dog-like race called the Grennij descened upon his home. Scorpy seems the Grennij - they seem primitive, but their ships are anything but - and realises they're an advance force for someone else. With a little bit of cunning and balls, Scorpius becomes their guide. He discovers that the Grennij are preparing for an invasion by the Kkore - a mysterious race which inhabit a region of space which only opens every 25 cycles. After killing the captain and assuming his command, Scorpius' audacity in battle earns him an audience with the Kkore themselves. Following much discussion and mind-probing (or lack thereof - Scorpy's Scarran training helps in this case), the Kkore decide to keep him on as advisor - so long as he shares everything in his mind. The final scene shows Scorpius strapped into a Kkore aurora chair, willingly giving every memory to his new masters - or does he?
Firstly, this comic is remarkable. The pacing of it is brilliant - each comic is a different part of the story. The opening of the comic is eerily reminiscent of Disney/Pixar's Wall-e in that there is no speech. There doesn't need to be. Which makes Scorpius seem all the more twisted, his loneliness weighing on him.
The Kkore are different - the Grennij themselves are well-defined, but I do like the idea of the Kkore actually being physically very large rather than standard human size.
The artwork can't fail to impress - Mike Ruiz and Nolan Woodard do an excellent job on the ice planet (I do like the more rough feel of it), the lighting and shading, and Scorpy's memories and flashbacks. The cannon scene is also great. Just one thing though - when Scorpy first goes into the aurora chair, I don't recognise the bottom-left image of a woman with an explosion behind her. Nevertheless, we don't know Scorpy's full back story.
Covers - I've got 0A (great montage), 1A (again, good though Scorpius looks a bit gimp-like), 2A (I don't normally like shots that could come from the comic story itself, but this is a good one) and 3A (Scorpy in chair - looks good but would've preferred something else).
The story itself is also good - not full of action, but a lot of plots and politicking. Script is great, especially Scorpius' thoughts and significant parts of his past.
Overall, this is up there with the best Farscape comics. Excellent artwork, a great plot that clearly sets Scorpius back up as a major player and brilliant pacing. 5 out of 5.
EDIT - dammit, messed up the poll for the top option. Sorry everyone!