Space Bastards #1 delivers a concept that’s so simple but at the same time so much fun. In this world the Intergalactic Postal Service will get your package delivered but, it’s a competition. The delivery game is a mercenary business with everyone out for themselves. They attempt to steal the packages from each other so they can get it delivered and paid. The more delivery people who touch it, the higher the price for the package and more money earned.

Writers Joe Aubrey and Eric Peterson deliver over-the-top action in Space Bastards #1. It’s REALLY over the top. The blood flies. The heads splatter. The violence is ultra.

The story focuses on David S. Proton. He’s an accountant, fired from his job, and is desperate for money. While the series could easily just drop us into the world, Aubrey and Peterson are smart to focus on Proton. He’s an everyman through whom we can relate. Having an alien or someone already in the business at the center of the story, the reader might be a bit more disconnected. We get to see Proton evolve and fall into the job eventually standing up and embracing the game.

And the game is the real draw. The comic is violent. There’s a dance about that. The package bounces from one courier to the next wracking up a higher score for the person who eventually delivers it. The violence is entertaining and over the top creating gore and destruction that’s so over the top, it’s hard to take serious. It’s meant to be silly in this way, a violent Looney Tunes where everyone is both Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.

Much of that silliness is due to Darick Robertson‘s art. It’s perfect here with such a vision. The aliens are unique, the worlds have personality. This isn’t a cut and paste job where there’s the same thing over and over. Instead, everything feels unique and original. You want to stay on the page and see what stands out. The comic has such personality. Every location, every world, every character, and every death. They all come together for a visual treat of violence. It’s over the top in every way and Robertson’s art feels like it embraces it with glee.

Space Bastards #1 is a lot of fun. That fun is squarely in its violence. It’s such a simple concept but takes such pleasure in the violence. It takes it and amps it up to 11. The comic reminds me a lot of Bisley’s Lobo where it just reveled in its action. The comic is a throwback in some ways and a comic you can just get lost in and enjoy the symphony of violence.

Story: Joe Aubrey, Eric Peterson Art: Darick Robertson
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Humanoids provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Zeus Comics