REVIEW: Mars Attacks #1

When it comes to new licensed comic books there can often be an automatic reaction to dismiss them as lesser series. Perhaps some seem them as nothing more than publishers attempting to cash in on a well-known property. Certainly, that has happened in the past and present, however, there are times when a property is so rich with potential great comics can come from it. Dynamite, for example, has had great success with their James Bonds books as of late. This week they see if they can repeat that success with a new property asÂ Mars Attacks #1Â debuts.

Many know Mars Attacks due to the 1996 Tim Burton movie. However, their legacy began long before that film. It started in the 1960“s when Len Brown and Woody Gelman created trading cards that depicted monstrous aliens invading Earth. The graphic imagery parodied much of the Science Fiction shlock of the day. Interesting enough both the cards and the film were not widely popular but have gained interest over the years. Perhaps that is the reason we are finally getting a new comic series inspired by this world.

Looking at the creative team alone it is clear Dynamite is putting the effort in to craft a respectable series. Eisner nominated Kyle Starks takes over writing duties and when you look at some of his past work on books like Sex Castle and Rock Candy Mountain you can see him establishing a comedic tone that falls in line well with Mars Attacks.Â He“s also had success writing licensed books like Rick and Morty so he knows how to play well with other people“s toys. When you add in cartoonist Chris Schweizer you should have the makings of a great book.

So how does the first issue pan out? There is certainly potential here for this to be an eventual standout series, however considering all the talent involved you would expect an opening issue that would do more to announce its presence. Instead, you have an issue that feels like more of a cold open that wets the appetite enough but still leaves you rather hungry. That may cause some to be eager for the eventual main course that is yet to come, while others who expected to be fully served out the gate will feel shortchanged.

When you look at the reasons why it ties into the structure of the comic. The bulk of the story is dedicated to establishing the relationship between Spencer and his hard-nosed former Marine father Major Carbutt. Spencer is a clear disappointment to his dad due to his inability to hold a job and take basic responsibility to his action. These are two people who share a bloodline and pretty much nothing else.

Kyle Starks is as strong as ever in the way he introduces characters. This is a great example of how to establish a bond between two characters without having to directly explain how they feel towards one another. A dynamic like this can often be overwritten to the point you have left with two unlikeable characters in an unbearable situation. The friction that exists between them comes from them trying to understand one another and failing to do so. Starks also makes sure to throw in an occasional joke or two to add levity. It is effective especially one involving bingo cheating that becomes a humours running gag.

In one way it is an admirable choice to be so character focused in an opening issue like this, however, it takes so much time for the issue to get to what it will eventually be the story gets lost in the eventual chaos. That will be especially the case if you are coming into this property blind to what came before. It may come off as odd that the titular characters are left so ill-defined. There is a very delicate balance to strike with any first issue of a comic. With this approach, you have the benefit of experiencing everything through the same lens as the characters. What you do not have is a sense of the larger picture of this global disaster and a hint towards the grander purpose of the narrative.Â

On a pure entertainment side, there is a lot to enjoy. Chris Schweizer“s style fits this story well. His design of the Martians look fantastic and his cartoony look keeps the mood light even when things get a tad graphic. We have so much sardonic style humor today it is refreshing to see jokes that are void of cynicism. Some of the humor may be a bit obvious like a visual gag about the difficulty of running from disaster when you have a walker. Where it becomes different is this simple one-off joke becomes an intricate part of the issue“s climax. Examples like this one caused the humor to be organically woven into the story.

Final Thoughts:

Mars Attacks #1 has the makings of what a licensed book should be; a strong creative team, a willingness to forge its own path, and a healthy appreciation for the source material that avoids being reliant on what came before. While the opening issue works well as a tone-setter, it comes off as incomplete as an opening chapter. The beauty of comics is that there is still plenty of time left to tell this story and if it successfully builds on what is right with this issue we will have another standout series by Dynamite.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer: Kyle Starks

Drawn By: Chris Schweizer

Coloring Assitance By:Â Liz TriceÂ Schweizer

Edited By: Kevin Ketner

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.