Black Science

Review by Booklist Review

*Starred Review* Right at the start of this new sci-fi comic, scientist Grant McKay lops the head off an electro-toad and uses its jarring electric blue tongue as a whip against his amphibious enemies. And that's just the beginning of the strange beauty in Remender's latest. As the lead researcher of the Anarchist Order of Scientists, McKay has fractured the rules governing interdimensional travel and taken his expedition (including his family) into other worlds. What begins as an accomplishment of science and wonder quickly becomes a nightmare when McKay realizes the machine that brought them here is now jumping between dimensions at random intervals. Remender is masterful when it comes to internal monologue, particularly here, when giving voice to the inner struggles of this timid, regretful scientist. His writing is both high-concept and descriptive, and it never loses sight of its humanity. Scalera perfectly echoes the off-the-wall story, drawing in sharp angles, losing the viewer in trees of geometric shapes, and using a brilliant palette of candy colors that pop against black backgrounds that swallow deeply etched faces, lurking figures, and imaginative creatures in their shadows. A must-read for Remender's fans or anyone thrilled by bizarre and compelling sci-fi.--Spanner, Ben Copyright 2014 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Fantastic voyages, whether in SF or comics, seldom go smoothly for their crews, and this one is a killer. Scientist Grant McKay, his family, and colleagues set out on a desperate journey when his dimension-hopping invention is sabotaged and they're catapulted into deadly parallel worlds. The book jumps directly into an action sequence; multiple flashbacks piece together the story as it progresses, filling in the blanks on the "Dimensionauts" and their pasts. The thrill of the story is found not only in the lethal, imaginative other earths, but also in the dysfunction and brutal infighting of a group torn apart by lies and accusations. Not everyone on this team will survive the journey, but can any of them get home? Is there a reality where it all didn't go so wrong? The rapid-fire dialogue from Remender (Fear Agent, Uncanny X-Force) matches the constant barrage of broken promises and misguided alliances in his story. Scalera and White's art is similarly angular, with bold colors and Japanese speed lines that keep the action at breakneck speed. This is a solid adventure tale with a dark undertone that stands in stark contrast to comics' usual optimistic view of knowledge. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by Library Journal Review

Imagine every alternate universe is layered upon one another like the skin of an onion and you have a pillar that can spike through them. With this pillar you can jump to-and borrow from-a universe that has cured cancer or solved global warming. This is the dream of Grant McKay, Remender's Reed Richards (aka Mister Fantastic) read-alike if the Fantastic Four were led by a postpunk, philandering founder. However, Grant's team of anarchistic scientists is thwarted from the outset, handing the team to the whims of a sabotaged Pillar. The Black Scientists are trapped, randomly jumping from reality to reality all the while emphasizing that Grant has doomed himself, his team, and his kids to an ego-driven series of quantum leaps. Verdict Remender (Fear Agent), Scalera (Secret Avengers), and White (Uncanny X-Force) have taken a fresh approach to a standard sf trope, revisiting the classic pulp cliff-hanger but upping the stakes in a way modern audiences will appreciate.-Terry Bosky, Madison, WI (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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