Area 51 has long been thought of as a storage facility for extraterrestrial materials, both in conspiracy-theory circles and in science fiction. Independence Day took the idea and tied it into the larger alien-invasion plot, revealing that one of the extraterrestrials attacking Earth had crash-landed in Roswell, New Mexico. Ben 10: Ultimate Alien took a more chilling approach and revealed that Area 51 was a massive prison containing aliens who were being detained against their will. With 51, Curt Pires and Jok take the concept you’d expect from a story revolving around Area 51 and blow it wide open with a shotgun spray of satire.
Probably the best example of what to expect with 51 is with its protagonist, Harvey. Harvey’s no ordinary guy; in fact, he happens to be the son of the President of the United States. But a wild week of debauchery in Miami exhausts his father’s patience, and as punishment, Harvey is shipped off to Area 51. He soon bears witness to a heavily armed militia made up of conspiracy theorists that storm the base, letting loose a cavalcade of weapons and beings. Now it’s up to Harvey and his fellow Area 51 employees to wrangle all the loose items.
Pires is no stranger to shaking up established genres, as his Image Comics hit Lost Fantasy put a unique spin on the fantasy genre by paying homage to iconic video games, including Final Fantasy. With 51, he’s telling a story that plays out less like a sci-fi action epic and more like a workplace comedy with splashes of sci-fi. Harvey’s interactions with his co-workers are hilarious, including Gord, who’s short, perpetually pissed off, and the definition of “politically incorrect,” and Celeste, who thankfully doesn’t put up with his party boy facade or his constant partying. Pires is capable of surprises, including a last-page shocker that will immediately make you want to pick up the next issue.
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Jok’s artwork also fits the blend of sci-fi and comedy insanely well, especially once the more outlandish elements start coming into play. Classic ray guns crackle with fiery energy. Massive robots stomp through the streets. Caped crusaders soar across the sky. Probably the best sight gag is the “Liefeld Particle Cannon,” a massive gun that definitely looks like it was drawn by Rob Liefeld. The excess of the sci-fi elements is matched by the characters’ expressions, whether it’s Harvey’s perpetual scowl or the even bigger scowl his father wears behind the Oval Office desk. And of course, there’s the collection of colors, ranging from a stormy grey in Washington DC to the sunbaked skies of Roswell.
The thing that stands out the most about 51 #1 is the use of lettering. Rather, it’s how Micah Myers uses lettering to convey mood. Hearts in speech bubbles convey love, whether it’s parental or romantic. Storm clouds mean someone’s in a really bad mood. Simple punctuation marks can express surprise or disbelief. Myers’ lettering also adds the extra comedic punch that 51 #1 needs, as his timing is pitch perfect.
51 #1 walks the line between sci-fi epic and satirical workplace comedy with ease, providing visuals and dialogue you won’t see in any other comic. Now the question is: how can Pires and Jok top this debut?
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