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REVIEW: Astronaut Down #2
Book Title: Astronaut Down #2
Book Description: In the first issue of “Astronaut Down” we learned a quantum mutation is overrunning the world. It behaves like a tsunami, flooding everything as it goes. There are 14 cities left in the world that are equipped with retaining walls that keep the mutation at bay. To combat this, a special team of astronauts is being trained. The astronauts selected will be put on an extremely dangerous mission. Their consciousness will be transported to an alternative dimension where the quantum mutation was cured. They are to find the scientific data for the cure and transmit it back. Truthfully, it’s a suicide mission. There are many things to consider. Nothing can go wrong on the launch. One of the astronauts must land in the correct dimension. The astronaut must find the cure. Even if the mission is successful they will die transmitting the code. At the end of the issue we saw Douglas Spitzer was the only astronaut to survive the launch. In the second installment of “Astronaut Down” we see that while Spitzer survived the launch he overshot the target. He’s in the wrong dimension. Spitzer realizes he’s in the wrong dimension. He has conflicted feelings about completing the mission though. In this dimension his wife is still alive and he gets to have a picnic with her. How much can it hurt to spend some time with the woman he lost and loves?
Book Author: James Patrick
Book Format: Paperback
Publisher - Orgnization: AfterShock Comics
Publisher Logo:
Illustrator: Rubine
- Story(4.2)
- Interior Art(4)
- Cover Art(4.2)
- Dialogue(4.1)
- Mechanics(3.9)
- Editing(3.9)
Summary
This issue gives the reader a lot more clarification about what the astronauts are doing. We see their consciousness is being sent to their bodies in parallel dimensions. It makes navigating through an asteroid field look like dusting crops. It’s insanely difficult, which explains the mortality rate of the program thus far.
It’s also very easy to see why Douglas is confused and conflicted. He watched the woman he loves die. That’s why he joined the program. Now that he’s actually with her he’s not necessarily eager to say goodbye again. I can’t say I blame him.
While it isn’t quite on the same level as his cover for the first issue, I am very fond of Rubine’s work on this cover. It reminds me of the portals we saw in “Masters of the Universe”. It’s very relevant to the story because in a roundabout way going through a portal is exactly what Spitzer is doing.
The level of detail on the interior pages was terrific. Rubine knows when to dial in how vivid the panel is and when to let the reader’s imagination do some of the work. In case you didn’t already know, Rubine is the real deal.
As a geek on a budget I’m all in on “Astronaut Down”. With this title James Patrick gives us an end of the world scenario and a love story all wrapped up with a neat little bow. We still have a lot of calendar left; but this one is working its way onto my shortlist of best titles in 2022.
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