The Moon is Following Us was a bonafide success in every sense of the word, from uniting the talents of Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo to building out a uniquely trippy sci-fi universe (including my new favorite character of 2024, Brio the toad.) But it was the final few pages that caught my attention, as they revealed that the sci-fi adventure was an elaborately constructed fantasy of sorts. The Moon Is Following Us #2 winds back the clock to explain exactly how married couple Sam and Duncan embarked on a journey to save their daughter Penny.
It also means a flip in artwork duties. Johnson handled the “real world” segments while Rossmo drew the fantasy, and the former takes up most of the book. Johnson’s distinct style has been seen in everything from his creator-owned work, including Do a Powerbomb! and Murder Falcon to his opening arc on Transformers. What makes The Moon is Following Us #2 stand out from those projects is how truly down to Earth it is. There are no giant robots or wrestling moves here; just beautiful moments of a family enjoying a day together.
Johnson also opens the book with no dialogue, which is a bold choice. But it works, as viewers will see the love that Sam and Duncan have for Penny and each other. It also makes the reveal about Penny’ s coma hit all the more harder, as Duncan tries to keep a level head while Sam spirals into despair. Johnson’s script is grounded in human emotion, making the fantastic elements stand out all the more.
Rossmo’s depiction of the fantasy realm continues to be eye-catching, especially in the sequence when Duncan and Sam are first transported there. The transition between art styles is unmistakable, but also seamless; it’s like the reader is literally being pulled into a whole different world with the protagonists. So is Mike Spicer’s coloring, which translates from darker tones in Johnson’s work to brighter for Rossmo’s. The image detailing just how this fantasy world works is trippy as all hell, yet another reason why this comic needs to be on your pull list.
The Moon is Following Us #2 follows up its stellar debut issue with a sophomore installment that keeps up the momentum and the emotional investment, which bodes well for future issues. I’ve felt that the second issue is the toughest of a comic, because you have to make sure readers keep coming back, but Johnson and Rossmo have more than succeeded.
