Image TPB Reviews

The Manhattan Projects Volume 1: Science. Bad.

Story by Jonathan Hickman, Art by Nick Pitarra

$14.99

Science fiction is always interesting. History—not so much. Manhattan Projects is the perfect mix of imaginary science and the act of creative manipulation of historical figures. The title speaks for itself. The story revolves around the so-called “Manhattan Project”, a secret government sanctioned facility bent on creating a powerful and incredibly destructive bomb. However, all these are just a façade. Behind stories of WMDs are even bigger stories—portals powered by Death Buddhists, Nazis with robotic arms, irradiated individuals, aliens, more aliens, and gateway to other worlds. It’s a mixed bag of ingenuity, explosions, oddity, and murder. Hickman’s ability to tell stories is uncanny; I’m a fan for life.

Everything about this book is beautiful. The cover art for each individual issue looks clean and consistent. Pitarra’s art is distinctly unique and playful. The squiggly lines growing out of everyone’s faces and just about everything else may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it feels just right for the genre. However, I have to admit that I’m a big fan of one-panel art and splash pages, which is something that the book doesn’t really have a lot of. In fact, I can only remember one—a big explosion that bookends a chapter.

Verdict:

A definite must-read. Hickman knows how to pull twists that has admittedly caught me off-guard, despite the hints that lead up to it. Manhattan Projects is a masterpiece, and if I haven’t convinced you yet, you must know that Einstein and Hitler are in it. Der Führer would be pleased if you read this book. 5/5

Great Pacific Volume 1: Trashed!

Story by Joe Harris, Art by Martin Morazzo

$ 9.99

Well, looks like what we got here are heap mounds of trash, a giant squid, some snooty rich kid, his ever-loyal friend, and some crazeee French lady. Great Pacific is a bit…disappointing. I read it just a few hours ago but I can’t make out enough details to right a rather positive take on it. The story centres on Chas Worthington, the heir to family-owned Worthington Energy. However, like all ambitious rich kids, he wanted to make a name for himself. So he pulls the “I’m dead” card, embezzles tons of money from his own company, steals a proprietary device capable of manipulating hydrocarbons, sets up shop on a rather unsightly place called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and declares it as his own sovereignty named New Texas. On his first day on the island, he manages to kill some tribesman and get a pollution-mutated giant squid to fall in love with him. I have to admit, the concept is kind of interesting, but there’s just not enough substance in it to make me become a monthly subscriber, or even a trade-waiter. If this book has one saving grace, it’s the art. Morazzo’s art is beautiful. The very first splash page on the first chapter is a testament to this. Who knew mountains of trash could look breath-taking? I just want a Morazzo print that I could pin up on my wall. Another point that I’d look to comment on is the lack of cleverly presented onomatopoeia. Please, a plane just swooped in and crashed and we don’t get one explosion SFX? Apparently, the only things in this island that makes remotely audible sounds are arrows, regular guns, “space guns”, and love-sick squids.

Verdict:

Liking this book is an acquired taste. It has its moments but it doesn’t really feel like something that I’d be sticking around with. Also, its Mature rating is kind of off-putting. Depictions of death weren’t incredibly graphic, swearing was rather limited, and for the most part, everyone was at least partially clothed (the tribesmen were wearing the usual tribesmen clothes). East of West has severed heads, and Death shagging an Asian lady and it gets a Teen Plus rating. What in the world makes Great Pacific so “mature”? Like I said, the book’s only saving grace is Morazzo’s art. Read it only when you just can’t find anything else you like. Or if somehow everything negative about it that I just said interests you. 2.5/5

Next trades up for review: East of West and Nowhere Men Volume 1, plus Locke and Key: Welcome To Lovecraft, which I got for free from Comixology’s giveway (woooo)!