It’s never too late to get your sci-fi on, as with Cruel Universe. The fourth issue in the EC Comics and Oni Press anthology series is back, and in time for the big election, there’s more than one political tale. Throughout four tales, get your sci-fi horror on in another good issue.
Opening this anthology issue is “By the Book” by Matt Bors and Daniel Irizarry, which features a war against aliens in American cities. It’s a twist on the Superman origin: an alien grows among us and decides to become president. This divides the people, especially when aliens come from the stars to populate Columbus, Ohio.
It’s fairly obvious how Bors and Irizarry are playing with metaphor and political commentary here. People see it as a fight against a threat they deem going too far. Maybe they’re right, though, as we see by the tale’s end.
I wasn’t familiar with Irizarry’s work, but it captures an eerie weirdness with alien design. His war-torn scenes are dramatic and upsetting, hammering home the loss of life and danger of a modern war in America. Props to the comedic final panel.
Things get political this issue.
Credit: Oni Press
Next is “Doomsday Particle” by Matt Kindt and Alison Sampson, which digs into the horrors of science and gets far too emotional. The story opens with three scientists isolating the “god particle,” which is one step closer to free and clean energy. Two scientists are men, and they treat the third female scientist like children. They claim she’s too emotional, but their teasing is clearly the culprit of their breakup.
This tale will thoroughly scare you if you’ve ever wondered if science could go too far on Earth. Sampson’s art adds a creepy layer with the male scientists, who are like children around the female scientists. A neat use of Xs creates an otherworldly danger.
“Peer Review” by Cecil Castellucci and Andrew Mutti features two scientists who have discovered life on a frozen moon in our solar system. Soon, they’re whisked off to an alien get-together, and things seem peachy. This story has a nice twist, with interesting insights from the scientists who reflect on wanting to carve up the aliens they’re talking to. There’s a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy vibe to this tale.
Closing out the anthology is the two-page tale “The Hero of Venisu” by Ben H. Winters and Kano. This is another political tale that explores the desire for our leaders to be good-looking. But what if there was a science fiction origin to their true look?!
Cruel Universe #4 maximizes the weirdness and horror with a few political-leaning tales. Compared to earlier issues, this anthology has a lot more science, making it a twisted good time.
You must be logged in to post a comment.