Frank Frazetta’s Tales of Science-Fantasy #1 is the debut of a new quarterly anthology series, each issue focusing on another masterpiece by the godfather of fantasy art, Frank Frazetta. In this story, inspired by the painting “Alien Crucifixtion,” writer Denton J. Tipton and artist Miguel Ángel Ruiz chronicle the final days of a brutal planetary dictator pursued by enemies and allies alike.

Generally, I’m not too familiar with Frazetta’s works. I know some of the more famous art (Death Dealer) but the stories and worlds around them are pretty foreign to me. So, to see comics spun out of his paintings has been interesting and what I’ve read, it’s been a bit mixed for me. Not knowing the “original material” hasn’t helped at all. So, I went into Frank Frazetta’s Tales of Science-Fantasy #1 with a wide open mind, intrigued about a comic based on a painting. And, but the time I finished reading, I wanted to learn more.

Tipton delivers a one-shot comic that’s entertaining and feels a bit of a parable as well. Duce is a dictator whose people are fed up and no idea who he can trust. We’re given the motivations of the various individuals in pursuit and who he must deal with to survive. And in the end, we’re left with a lesson to ponder and think about. It’s a whirlwind story that is perfect for expansion. What exactly has Duce done? What was the breaking point of the people? There’s potential here to explore our society through this fantasy world, as good sci-fi does. As is, Frank Frazetta’s Tales of Science-Fantasy #1 is an entertaining read that feels like the Cliff’s Notes of events. It’s not a bad thing but there’s a lot packed into this one issue. And even with so much thrown at readers, it entertains with its twists and turns.

The art by Miguel Ángel Ruiz is interesting to me. With color by Josh Burcham and lettering by Jacob Bascle, there’s a familiarity with the world and characters, as if they’re riffed on other works. I’m not familiar with how much Frazetta fleshed out but you can see things like John Carter of Mars within. Like the story itself, there’s a lot of small details that leave you wondering and wanting to learn more about the world. The team does an excellent job of delivering the emotion of the characters it focuses on. Whether it’s Duce’s anger, the frustrations of soldiers, or the cloud of evil hovering over others, the comic does a solid job of conveying where everyone stands and a bit why just in their body language.

Frank Frazetta’s Tales of Science-Fantasy #1 is an intriguing start to the series. It has that anthology feel with a nice lesson in the end for readers to ponder and chew on. What’s better, the debut leaves us wanting more from this brutal world. Despite its fascist leader, it’s a start that leaves a lot to explore and lessons to be learned in a reflection on our reality.

Story: Denton J. Tipton Art: Miguel Ángel Ruiz
Color: Josh Burcham Letterer: Jacob Bascle
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Opus Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics