Tag Archives: space job

Space Job #4 continues with the laughs and leaves us wanting more

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Space Job #4

When I first went to read Space Job, I expected a spoof of Star Trek. But, after the first issue it was clear I was so very wrong. The series has far more in common with The Office than it does with the various sci-fi series set on space ships. From early on with a First Officer getting killed to a Captain who’s utterly clueless and the crew who think he’s an idiot, the series is a workplace comedy. Space Job #4 is a prime example of all of that as the various stories wrap up and of course none of it goes smoothly.

Written by David A. Goodman Space Job #4 takes everything that’s built up to this point and gives them fairly satisfactory endings. I say satisfactory because not everything is resolved since the series could continue on with another volume. A funeral takes place in what has to be one of the most awkward and unprofessional send-offs ever. Rick being infested with an alien continues awkwardness that emphasizes the cluelessness of the crew. And, Travis’ attempt to find another job delivers an arc that feels very Pam and Jim from The Office. There’s a lot covered and all of it is done so well with it delivering an issue packed with laughs.

The art by Álvaro Sarraseca with color by Jordi Escuin Llorach, and lettering by Mauro Mantella is solid. The comic has consistently looked good. The series looks futuristic but there’s a sterile quality about it all with a lot of space making it all feel even more like a cold office everyone’s trapped in. The looks and body language from the crew is fantastic and things just go so very wrong. The cringe is caught quite well.

Space Job #4 is a fantastic ending to this volume and leaves us wanting more. It’s a series that caught us off guard as far as expectations and delivered solid laughs with every issue. A sleeper comic of the year that shouldn’t be missed.

Story: David A. Goodman Art: Álvaro Sarraseca
Color: Jordi Escuin Llorach Letterer: Mauro Mantella
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Wolverine Snikt

Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

Brynmore #1 (IDW Publishing) – A new horror series from Steve Niles and Damien Worm? Yes please!

Creed: Next Round #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Taking place ten years after Creed III, Amara is now training looking to step outside of Adonis’ shadow.

Darkwing Duck #6 (Dynamite Entertainment) – If you enjoyed the classic animated series, don’t miss out on this new comic which continues the fun!

Fist of the North Star Vol. 9 (VIZ Media) – If you never read this manga series, this new edition is the perfect opportunity to see what you’ve been missing!

Local Man #5 (Image Comics) – Left brutally beaten, Local Man is being stalked by the true killer of Hodag!

The Quarry #1 (Scout Comics) – After a recent family tragedy, a boy sets out to purchase a Christmas tree with the help of his deceased big brother’s girlfriend, Katie.

Space Job #4 (Dark Horse Comics) – The series has been great with every issue. It’s not so much a Star Trek-spoof as a workplace comedy set in space.

Starfinder: Angels of the Drift #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) – The popular roleplaying game comes to comics!

Wolverine Snikt (VIZ Media) – Tsutomu Nihei takes in Wolverine in this new manga!

Space Job #3 continues the laughs and cringe

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Space Job #3

It’s about time someone on this ship took some initiative, and Ensign Masht is on the case! First thing, the late First Officer Sheridan needs a proper send off. While Masht begins work on Sheridan’s memorial, Travis prepares to jump ship (and careers), Dana might have to face the facts about her marriage, and Captain Olivier takes decisive action to outmaneuver the Clooney. Space Job #3 continues the office comedy, no, it’s not a Star Trek spoof.

Written by David A. Goodman, Space Job #3 is another fantastic issue of utter incompetence, staff revolt, and staff disgust. Goodman has put together a series that on its surface might seem like a Star Trek spoof but in reality it has more to do with The Office.

There’s a failing relationship, irritation at an inept boss, and staff looking to leave, it’s more what we experience at work than anything else. It just so happens to take place on a spaceship. What’s great is that the series remains so relatable inspite of its sci-fi setting.

The issue also delivers some ideas as to how the world has gotten to the point it has. We’ve yet to really get a good idea as to where things stand and how space travel was achieve but this issue fleshes all of that out as we now have a better idea as to why things are the way they are.

Goodman also keeps readers on their toes with comments and statements that feel like they come out of left field but also are right at home in the story. An alien explains it likes humans for the “food and porn” just nails the dry and absurd humor the comic is going for.

The art by Álvaro Sarraseca nails the tone of the series. There’s something about the minimalist nature of the series. It doesn’t go for lots of fancy technology instead leaving much of it empty and cold in a way. That’s enhanced by the color from Jordi Escuin Llorach which sticks to blues, greys, and whites, an almost sanitized feel in a way. The lettering by Mauro Mantellez too adds to the dry, clean, cool, nature of it all.

Space Job #3 is another great issue that adds to the workplace comedy. There’s something that anyone that has worked in an office or for others can relate to. While the look might say soaring through space, the reality is, the comic is very grounded.

Story: David A. Goodman Art: Álvaro Sarraseca
Color: Jordi Escuin Llorach Letterer: Mauro Mantellaz
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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TRAVELING TO MARS #5

Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

007: For King or Country #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) – We loved the last miniseries and we’re expecting more fun with this one. Bond fans won’t want to miss out on this.

All the Devils Are Here #1 (Scout Comics) – It says it reinvents the exorcism story, and we’re interested in seeing how it does and if it pulls it off.

Ambassadors #2 (Image Comics) – The first issue was an interesting mix of Willy Wonka and superheroes and how it ties in Millarworld’s bigger picture has us intrigued.

Captain America: Cold War Alpha #1 (Marvel) – An event is coming and this kicks things off!

Dark Ride #5 (Image Comics) – We’re loving this horror series and excited to see where the next arc goes. Who’s corrupted? What are these demons? We want to know more!

Giant Kokju #1 (Image Comics) – A twist(ed) take on the giant monster genre.

The Gimmick #2 (AHOY Comics) – This superpowers meets wrestling series had a very interesting debut and we want to see where it goes from there.

Great British Bump off #1 (Dark Horse) – Described as an Agatha Christie-styled murder mystery set in a competitive baking competition, that has us completely sold on this.

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (Marvel) – The first issue is entertaining and has us wanting to find out what more happened. Read our early review.

Kaiju No. 8 Vol. 6 (VIZ Media) – The series has been great so far changing up the kaiju concept and then it did it again after well into the series. We want to see what happens next! Great action. Great images. Lots of fun.

Maniac of New York: Don’t Call it a Comeback #2 (AfterShock) – You thought Harry was killed? Guess what, that’s not the case. We’re loving this horror franchise.

Missing You (IDW Publishing) – Siblings who recently lost their mother bring an injured deer home to rescue it. We’re already holding back tears.

Phantom Road #2 (Image Comics) – The first issue was really interesting with a pair of individuals transported to a strange world. We’re not quite sure what’s going on and want to find out more.

Red Zone #2 (AWA Studios) – The series about an American Professor of Russian of Slavic studies being called in by the US government for a secret mission to Russia is interesting considering the state of the world.

Seasons Have Teeth #1 (BOOM! Studios) – In a drab, colorless world, the seasons bring change… and also destruction. The seasons arrive to a retired conflict photographer as personified, god-like creatures. Sounds original!

Space Job #3 (Dark Horse) – Each issue has had us cracking up in this workplace comedy meets Star Trek.

Star Wars: Ewoks #1 (Marvel) – Ewoks. Nuff said.

TMNT/Usagi Yojimbo: Wherewhen #1 (IDW Publishing) – It’s TMNT meets Usagi Yojimbo. We don’t need any more reason to be excited for this.

Traveling to Mars #5 (Ablaze) – The series has been an amazing mix of satire, comedy, and drama, all with a ton of heart. One of our favorites this year.

WildC.A.T.s #6 (DC Comics) – The series has delivered great action, solid moments with the characters and finally cracked the code in bringing the Wildstorm world into the DCU!

Space Job #2 continues the laughs

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Space Job #2

Captain Olivier knows himself to be a man of unimpeachable integrity. A man who does whatever it takes to bring democracy to the galaxy, which means doing whatever it takes to protect the lives of his crew, which means doing whatever it takes to keep his ship far, far away from the battle raging at the Bungo Straits. A democracy without someone flying the cargo runs is no democracy at all. Space Job #2 continues the laughs as Captain Oliver does everything he can to not have to follow his boss’ orders.

Written by David A. Goodman, Space Job #2 at its heart is a workspace comedy. While the setting might remind us of Star Trek, the reality is, the comic could be set pretty much anywhere and still work.

Goodman, through various storylines, focuses on the things we experience as workers. There’s the boss who is overbearing. There’s the boss who’s there to cash a paycheck and not listen. Then there’s the staffer who is underappreciated and looking to change jobs. And then there’s that weird guy… Though it takes place in space, it’s still relatable, as it’s all things we’ve been forced to deal with in various ways. This is a basically a comic that takes situations you’d experience in every office and puts it on a spaceship. The perfect example is the staffer who’s attempting to leave and thrown a promotion their way to stay. A promotion they don’t really want and just means more work covering for an inept boss.

The art by Álvaro Sarraseca continues its subtle visual jokes but also there’s a bigger emphasis on the emotion of the staff. With color by Jordi Escuin Llorach and lettering by Mauro Mantella, there’s less of a focus on those quick background jokes, and instead there’s more physical comedy of the characters and how they interact, especially some negative interactions. It puts a bit more drama into things but also switches up what we need to pay attention to.

Space Job #2 is a solid second issue showing the debut wasn’t a fluke. The comic is very smart, taking digs at our work reality instead of being another homage/spoof to Star Trek. It’s well worth getting, especially if you need a good laugh. Here’s hoping it can keep it up.

Story: David A. Goodman Art: Álvaro Sarraseca
Color: Jordi Escuin Llorach Letterer: Mauro Mantella
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.85 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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TRAVELING TO MARS #4

Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1 (DC Comics) – Someone is killing versions of Superman across the multiverse and Jon Kent is called upon to stop the killing.

ARC (Image Comics) – An intriguing comic focused on illegal poaching and those fighting against it.

Black Tape #2 (AWA Studios) – The first issue was interesting about a musician who died and the viper’s circling to take advantage of what’s been left by him.

Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #2 (Marvel) – The first issue was a lot of fun putting the spotlight on a relatively new character and taking a familiar dynamic and switching it up.

By Water: The Felix Manz Story (Plough Publishing) – The true story of the conflict between establishment reformer Ulrich Zwingli and his student Felix Manz.

Dejah Thoris #1 (Dynamite Entertainment) – Chuck Brown writing an early chapter of Dejah’s life? Yeah, we’re intrigued.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (IDW Publishing) – With a film coming later this month, check out the prequel comic!

The Gimmick #1 (AHOY Comics) – It’s superpowers meets wrestling in a very interesting debut that sets up an intriguing world and story.

Killchella #3 (Scout Comics) – What should’ve been the festival weekend of a lifetime has now turned into a nightmare. It’s the horror genre mixed with summer music festivals.

New Mutants: Lethal Legion #1 (Marvel) – We’re told this ties into the upcoming “Fall of X” which puts it on our spotlight.

Predator #1 (Marvel) – We’re promised this will turn what we know about the Predators on its head and we’re here for it.

Samurai Doggy #4 (AfterShock) – The previous issue was a visual feast and we’re intrigued what this next issue brings.

Space Job #2 (Dark Horse) – The first issue was hilarious and caught us off guard. We laughed a lot and hoping for more of that in the second issue.

Stoneheart #1 (Image Comics) – A new ongoing fantasy series from Emma Kubert.

Traveling to Mars #4 (Ablaze) – Roy gets an unexpected chance at salvation when his estranged wife agrees to talk to him before his spaceship cuts off communications with the Earth. A surprisingly heartfelt series.

X-23: Deadly Regenesis #1 (Marvel) – An unknown chapter of Laura’s life!

Around the Tubes

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Static: Shadows of Dakota #1

The weekend is almost here! What geeky things are you all doing? Sound off in the comments. While you wait for the weekend to begin and weekday to end, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web!

ICv2 – Disney To Cut 7,000 Jobs – But you get your sequels!!

The Beat – Ike-led Disney board revolt ends as Bob Iger buries Ike Perlmutter – And that’s how you plunge the knife deeper even after winning.

The Beat – Chris Browne, long time cartoonist of Hägar the Horrible, has died – Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans.

Reviews

The Beat – Not All Robots Vol. 1
Comic Crusaders – Space Job #1
CBR – Static: Shadows of Dakota #1

Space Job #1 is laugh out loud funny

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Space Job #1

After five long years of soul-crushing servitude as a chef’s assistant, Danny Sheridan is getting his dream job in space as First Officer aboard the SS George H.W. Bush. But on his first day he finds himself crashing back to reality. Nothing seems right, the crew is subpar . . . something’s going on, and First Officer Danny Sheridan is going to get to the bottom of it or die trying. For those that have read Space Job #1, you’ll know why that description is so funny. The debut, and series, is the latest in Star Trek riffs, going in the complete comedy direction, and it’s fantastic.

Written by David A. Goodman, Space Job #1 is a great debut. It’s been a while since I laughed so much and so often at a comic. This is one where the jokes keep coming and you’ll really laugh out loud. It’s twisted in all the right ways introducing us to a starship crew where everyone you kind of want to slap.

Goodman kicks off the series focusing on newly promoted First Officer Danny Sheridan. Promoted from a chef’s assistant to such a high ranking one, Danny is a douche. He’s everything we should hate in leadership as he goes through his head as to how shitty he’s going to treat the crew. He justifies how he’ll harass his yeoman. He discusses how he’ll bust down a crew member for how he was talked to. He’s an asshole. And, you hope he gets what’s coming. And what’s coming is… unexpected.

Goodman delivers a debut that keeps the readers on its toes. Space Job #1 is fantastic with each character introduced and how over the top they are and silly their situations are. The comic really delivers the laughs.

Álvaro Sarraseca‘s art helps nail down those laughs. With color by Jordie Escuin Llorach and lettering by Mauro Mantella the comic visually generally plays things straight. Generally. That’s what’s great about the art and story as a whole. It’s so silly at times but it’s all played out straight. Visually, there’s a joke that goes on in the back as to individuals have a serious discussion and that visual is the punchline for a joke. The comic makes great use of “confessionals” as it lays out the numerous problems of the ship. And, small detail choices adds so much to who these characters are.

Space Job #1 is the surprise of the week. I didn’t expect a ton going into it, just a riff on Trek, but the debut had me laughing multiple times and smiling throughout. I’m a fan of “holy shit” type of humor and this comic is deep in that keeping readers on their toes as to what messed up situation is going to be revealed. This is a hell of a debut and has me excited to see where this series, and these screw-ups, boldly go.

Story: David A. Goodman Art: Álvaro Sarraseca
Color: Jordi Escuin Llorach Letterer: Mauro Mantella
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.85 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

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Monarch #1

Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

A Home Without (Northwest Press) – An autobiographical graphic novel about a boy growing up in the Bible Belt of the 1980s.

Bishop: War College #1 (Marvel) – Bishop is leading and teaching a new team!

The Exiled #1 (WhatNot Publishing) – Wesley Snipes doing a comic. Nuff said.

Harrower #1 (BOOM! Studios) – A new horror series from Justin Jordan and Brahm Revel that sounds like a nice throwback to slasher/horror films of the 70s and 80s.

How I Became a Shoplifter #1 (Sumerian Comics) – A year by year look at the final generation of juvenile delinquents before technology took over. The concept sounds really intriguing.

I Am the Law: How Judge Dredd Predicted Our Future (Rebellion/2000AD) – Blending comic book history with contemporary radical theories on policing, I Am The Law takes key Dredd stories from the last 45 years and demonstrates how they provide a unique wake up call about our gradual, and not so gradual, slide towards authoritarian policing.

Marry Me a Little (Graphic Mundi) – Recounting same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges made gay marriage the law of the land.

Monarch #1 (Image Comics) – Growing up in the city of Compton is tough enough as it is, but as Travon has learned all too well, growing up as an orphan in the city of Compton with gang members hunting you down every day is even tougher. But all of that is about to change, because today is the day that aliens make first contact with Earth-and it only spells doom for life as we know it! Read our glowing review here!

Red Goblin #1 (Marvel) – Normie Osborn gets his own symbiote. We’re hoping this isn’t the expansion of too many symbiotes again but it’s clearly leading somewhere.

Saga of a Doomed Universe #3 (CEX Publishing) – In 1984, the unlikeliest heroes emerge at the world’s end: a memory-powered loser named Super-Sleuth and the often-held-hostage heroine, Psionica. Reality itself is now threatened!

The Secret History of Black Punk: Record Zero (Silver Sprocket) – An illustrated roll-call for punk, post-punk, hardcore, no wave, and experimental bands from ground zero until now.

Space Job #1 (Dark Horse Comics) – After five long years of soul-crushing servitude as a chef’s assistant, Danny Sheridan is getting his dream job in space as First Officer aboard the SS George H.W. Bush. But on his first day he finds himself crashing back to reality. Nothing seems right. We’re intrigued by this one.

Spy Superb #2 (Dark Horse Comics) – Matt Kindt alone sells this one for us but the first issue was amazing. The series is about spies so perfect, they don’t realize they’re spies!

Static: Shadows of Dakota #1 (DC Comics/Milestone) – Static is back! The second season kicks off here as a new threat lurks in the shadows!

Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants #1 (Marvel) – A “Sins of Sinister” series. The debut was solid and Storm leading a resistance against Sinister sounds too awesome.

Under the Banner of King Death (Beacon Press) – Set at the pinnacle of the “Golden Age” of Atlantic piracy, this novel follows three unlikely companions, who are sold into servitude on a merchant ship and unwittingly thrust into a voyage of rebellion.

In Space Job no one can hear you procrastinate

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Dark Horse Comics has announced Space Job, an all-new series by writer David A. Goodman. The crew of the SS George H.W. Bush may not be the best in the galaxy, but they’re, well… a crew. Space Job features art by Álvaro Sarraseca and colors by Jordi Escuin Llorach.  

It’s the future, and serving aboard the S.S. Bush is the worst job in the fleet. The Captain is every terrible, self-centered boss you’ve ever had, more concerned with what he bought on Space eBay than he is in getting the work done; the Communications Officer always seems to be on a personal call, and nothing gets fixed because the Chief Engineer really is only interested in hitting on his coworkers.   They’re on a simple cargo run, and the biggest threat to the ship is the fact that the Operations Officer, the one guy holding it all together, is updating his resume. What could go wrong?

Space Job #1 (of 4) will be available in comic shops February 8, 2023. It is available for pre-order now at your local comic shop and will retail for $3.99.

Space Job #1