Tag Archives: traveling to mars

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Traveling to Mars #2

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.

Breath of the Giant (Fairsquare Comics) – Legends say the North is the home of Giants whose breath can bring the dead back to life. Sisters Iris and Sophia, decide to go on a quest to steal this breath in order to resuscitate their dearly departed mother

Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1 (Marvel) – The event has been interesting so far and we’re intrigued to see how Ms. Marvel fits into all of it.

Dead Seas #1 (IDW Publishing) – Ghosts are real and dangerous. Their ectoplasm is also able to cure diseases. The concept is unique and original and we already have a glowing review of it.

GCPD: The Blue Wall #3 (DC Comics) – Writer John Ridley has been exploring the tough job that is the GCPD as well as its corruption. It’s like the best television cop show in comic form.

Ghost Planet (Scout Comics) – A family of deep space explorers rushes to solve the mystery of Ghost Planet before their recently-dead loved ones return to kill them next!

I Hate Fairyland #2 (Image Comics) – The first issue is exactly what we were expecting with violence, rudeness, and some great art. It’s Looney Tunes violence in a fantasy world and a perfect comic to escape in to during these cold months.

Junior #1 (Scout Comics) – What’s a young space marine supposed to do when a rogue asteroid slams into the space station she was sent to repair? Well, she grabs her alien, hippo-like sidekick and she crash lands on a dinosaur-infested planet-that’s what she does!

Les Miserables Omnibus Vol. 1 (Seven Seas Entertainment) – We’re suckers for anything Les Miserables.

Traveling to Mars #2 (Ablaze) – The first issue was fantastic, about the first man to go to Mars. He was chosen because he has terminal cancer and it’s a one way trip anyways. The series does a great job of mixing sci-fi and satire.

ABLAZE reveals its March 2023 releases

THE BOOGYMAN TP

by Mathieu Salvia and Djet · MSRP: $19.99 · 184 Pages · ISBN: 978-1-68497-127-5 · Available April 12th

Monsters don’t only exist in children’s minds…

Passionate about reading, Elliott has always preferred the stories of boogymen, those monstrous creatures which, at night, hide in the shadows or under the bed to frighten little children. He can’t imagine how much they will change his life… Witnessing the bloody murder of his parents, he will discover that boogymen do indeed exist, and very precise codes govern their existence. When one of the most powerful boogymen, Father Death, decides to protect him, Elliott finds himself plunged into a terrible conflict at the heart of a universe as terrifying as it is fascinating. On a dark, stormy night, Elliott’s destiny will be fulfilled…

This definitive edition collects the 6-issue critically acclaimed series and includes a cover gallery and bonus material. 

THE BOOGYMAN TP

SAVAGE GARDEN Omnibus Vol. 1

by Hyeon-Sook Lee · MSRP: $19.99 · 400 Pages · ISBN: 978-1-68497-109-1 · Available April 12th

In 18th century England, Gabriel, an orphan girl from a fallen noble family, befriends a young man named Jeremy, who was rumored to be an illegitimate child of a nobleman. After an incident occurs, Gabriel must impersonate her friend Jeremy, taking his place at an all-boys academy for nobles, a place that may seem like heaven to others, but hides a harshness and brutality which she could never have imagined.

SAVAGE GARDEN Omnibus Vol. 1

IMMORTAL REGIS Omnibus Vol. 1

story by Gaonbi , art by Juder · MSRP: $19.99 · 400 Pages · ISBN: 978-1-68497-108-4 · Available April 12th

When Régis, a young high school student, dies because of an evil witch, he didn’t know it would be just the beginning of his adventures. Now immortal and undead, he will quickly have to leave our world for that of Chaos, a parallel universe where magic reigns. Enter the world of Immortal Regis.

Collecting the first two volumes of the critically acclaimed supernatural fantasy action manhwa series! The stunning artwork, thrilling story and charismatic characters of this shonen-style title make this Korean bestseller a work that is sure to find a wide audience in English.

IMMORTAL REGIS Omnibus Vol. 1

FAR CRY: ESPERANZA’S TEARS TP Edition

by Mathieu Mariolle, Afif Khaled & Salaheddine Basti · MSRP: $16.99 · 120 Pages · ISBN: 978-1-68497-110-7 · Available March 15th 

For Juan Cortez, guerrilla warfare is a profession. Death, a hobby. Over the years, he’s traveled from countries at war to conflict zones, putting his experience and training at the service of the highest bidder. This time, fate led him to Santa Costa, a South American country that curiously reminds him of Yara, his native land. Because here, as on the island of Antón Castillo, the recent discovery of a rare resource, a mineral called “Tantalum,” has upset the economy of a small nation previously ignored.

Three camps now face each other: the military junta recently established in power by Di Stefano, the bourgeois party led by the daughter of the assassinated former leader, and a revolutionary group, defender of labor and indigenous rights. It was the latter, guided by their leader Max Purillo, who called on Juan’s talents. And for him, it’s blessed bread. A nascent guerrilla, a troubled period politically, and above all: money. A lot of money. To save the country, he is asked to strike a blow by assassinating General Di Stefano. But of course, nothing will go as planned… Collection includes the 4-issue series plus cover gallery and bonus material.

FAR CRY: ESPERANZA’S TEARS TP Edition

CHILDREN OF THE BLACK SUN #3

by Dario Sicchio and Letizia Cadonici · MSRP: $3.99 · Available March 8th 

“It is not difficult to be happy under a blue sky. But it takes a lot of courage to be strong even under a black sun.”

The older children of the black sun continue to initiate their younger counterparts into their way of thinking and incorporate them into their plan for Brightvale. But even before all the elements of what they have in store are revealed, the town’s descent into madness is already taking hold and turning the world on its head.

CHILDREN OF THE BLACK SUN #3

FAMILY TIME #4

by Lily Windom, Robert Windom, and Asiah Fulmore · MSRP: $3.99 · Available March 15th 

The first miniseries about the O’Connell family’s travels through time comes to a dramatic conclusion. Lily must confront Ciaran to save her family and friends.  Time is running out for them to return to the present!  And as a special bonus, issue four contains 40 story and art pages for the same price! 

Robert Windom, the writer/creator of Seven Sons, and his eleven-year-old daughter, Lily, bring you a fun, fantasy adventure, featuring Art Direction by Eisner-Award winning artist Sanford Greene (Bitter Root) and anime-inspired interior art by new talent and Greene-protege Asiah Fulmore (DC’s Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld).

FAMILY TIME #4

TRAVELING TO MARS #5

by Mark Russell and Roberto Meli · MSRP: $3.99 · Available March 22nd  

From the Eisner-winning writer, Mark Russell, TRAVELING TO MARS tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for the unlikely mission for one simple reason: he is terminally ill and has no expectation of returning. In the latest issue, Roy reminisces on the greatest big mouth bass who ever lived and discovers that he is not alone in space.

TRAVELING TO MARS #5

LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #7

by HP Lovecraft, Florentino Flórez, Guillermo Sanna and Jacques Salomon · MSRP: $3.99 · Available March 29th 

Randolph Carter’s quest leads him even deeper into the Dreamlands and to the city of Sarkomand. But what he sees there may make him want to finally return to the waking world. Can he hang on just a bit longer to reach Kadath and the end of his quest or will the nightmares he faces bring him to the brink of madness? As a bonus, the latest issue also includes the original prose story!

LOVECRAFT: UNKNOWN KADATH #7

Review: Traveling to Mars #1

Traveling to Mars #1

Who will be the first person to travel to mars? There’s work going on now to determine who that might be in reality. Traveling to Mars is that story, with a twist, it’s written by brilliant satirist Mark Russell. Roy Livingston has the honor to be that person. A great pilot? Some brave astronaut? Nope, Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars, is a former pet store owner. Why does he have the honor? He’s terminally ill and there’s no expectation he’ll return. Russell kicks off a twisted sci-fi adventure in Traveling to Mars #1.

Roy is joined on his mission by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of God. Russell delivers an interesting, and somewhat surprising debut in Traveling to Mars #1. Russell is known for not just delivering entertaining stories but packing them in with so much humor and even better, skewering society at the same time. He delivers a lot of that here, but it’s also a rather poignant story as well.

Traveling to Mars #1 introduces us to Livingstone and how he got to where he is. We learn about his childhood and how he pretty much went nowhere. He manages a pet store and has had a fairly uneventful life. There’s a bit of sadness to it all and Russell does an excellent job of mixing what easily could be a depressing story with a lot of small jokes that keeps the melancholy at bay.

Russell is joined by Roberto Meli on art. The two is an interesting combo. Often with Russell’s stories, the art is vital to the jokes. Panels are packed with subtle digs throughout and keeps readers on their toes. Traveling to Mars #1 features some of that but it’s not to the usual extent we see. But, Meli’s art is vital in telling Roy’s story. We get a sense of his life, both past and present, through the visuals and get a better sense of who he is. The visuals build some sympathy in some ways that just “telling” wouldn’t do.

Traveling to Mars #1 delivers a story of reflection. We’re teased with the story of a man who hasn’t done much with his life and finding meaning in his final days. I’m positive we’re going to see a lot of surprises as the story progresses as Livingstone reflects on life and deals with his new robot friends. This feels like a series that’s going to not just deliver some laughs but also very well might tug at heart strings as well.

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


Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

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