When I see a comic written by Mark Russell, I expect biting satire and lots of laughs. Russell has delivered some fantastic series that hold up a mirror to our world and skewers it… and then some. And while the debut issue absolutely had that, Traveling to Mars #2 caught me off guard in its focus on Roy Livingston the person. This isn’t so much a laugh out loud issue as it is a sad focus on the person the comic revolves around.

Traveling to Mars is about the race to Mars. A corporation has hired Roy to head to the planet. He previously worked at a pet store and the reason he was chosen is because he has terminal cancer and it’s a one way ticket anyways. His trip has been a general secret so his corporate bosses could get ahead of the competition. This issue brings up some of the people Roy has left behind.

As part of the deal, Roy’s mother gets $10 million for his journey. She has no idea what he’s done and what’s coming and we get to see their interaction, a frustrating and at times touching back and forth that delivers some laughs and some feels. But, coming up over and over is Roy’s ex-wife. There’s a sadness and longing presented that makes Roy much more than the screwup he’s presented as. We don’t know the full story but it’s hard to not fee bad for him as he thinks about his current situation and what he left behind. Roy has hit that spot he’s reflecting on his past and maybe realizing he had something left for him on Earth and things weren’t totally bleak.

Where the humor comes is the small observations of Roy. The opening where he recounts the story of a Celtic King and the conclusion he’s a tool and not some great leader/explorer. His interactions and thoughts about the ship itself. They’re all small humorous details that make the issue not so bleak and delivers some laughs. It’s small things that we might notice in our life. Design flaws from engineers who don’t have to go on the trip build up with work arounds that are silly but somehow work. Then there’s Roy’s two companions. Robots who are learning about the world through Roy. You can see where this might turn into a disaster, a reality that’s most likely to come and it’d be surprising if it didn’t.

Robert Meli‘s art continues to be solid. There’s a fantastical sci-fi aspect about it but the comic also remains grounded. But, the biggest thing about Traveling to Mars #2 is how Meli captures Roy’s sadness. There’s really something there by the end where you feel bad for this screw up. It helps turn the comic from some comedic/satire/sci-fi story into something else. There’s a human aspect to it all and a sadness captured by the imagery.

Traveling to Mars #2 continues to surprise. What easily could have been satire about the current race to Mars instead focuses on the man who is nothing but a tool for it. In two issue he’s not so much part of the joke, or the joke itself, he’s instead a man who has regrets and might have made a bad but understandable decision. This is a series that looks like it’s going to surprise us as to where it goes.

Story: Mark Russell Art: Roberto Meli
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Ablaze provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle