It’s a fine wrap-up for the first Infinity 8 arc. It’s kind of amazing how well Zep and Trondheim plot it since, once again, it’s all action. They’ve just gotten done with action, then there’s more action, and they don’t change settings. The issue doesn’t introduce anything new, just makes Keren figure out how to save the day with limited resources.

There’s some great character stuff this issue between Keren and her “love interest” Sagoss. It’s the first time Sagoss has been likable as anything other than an annoyance. Great expressions from Bertail on the couple as well.

Lots of humor, lots of lasers, lots of hungry aliens. The hungry aliens have a bit of a twist as far as their motivation goes, which is cool, as is the idea the book gets a soft reset at the end. The next arc will be after time has reset. The ship gets do-overs.

It’s hard to believe this book is only three issues in. Even with two all-action issues, Trondheim, Zep, and Bertail created a substantial story.

Awesome comic.

CREDITS

Love and Mummies, Part Three; writers, Lewis Trondheim and Zep; artist, Dominique Bertail; publisher, Lion Forge Comics.

This issue of Infinity 8 is all action. It’s a chase. Yoko is trying to save the ship from the hungry aliens–everyone’s an alien but the hungry aliens are the ones who eat dead bodies and realize if they kill everyone, they have dead bodies to eat. Only she trusts the wrong alien.

He gets her gun and chases after her. It’s terrifying. Not just because the alien–when hungry for dead flesh–has octopus tentacles hanging out of its mouth. He’s a relentless villain, Yoko’s a sympathetic protagonist (even if she’s too mean to the not hungry dead flesh eating alien who has a crush on her–he’s just a softie).

Lots of gorgeous art from Bertail. Terrifying space aliens and relentless chase sequences and gorgeous art aren’t mutually exclusive in Infinity 8.

The whole thing moves so fast, it doesn’t even feel like anything’s missing at the end of the issue, even though there’s just been a chase sequence. And the reader is left at the cliffhanger having no idea what to expect next, which is awesome.

Infinity 8 #2 is how you do an all-action comic. Bertail, Trondheim, and Zep deliver.

CREDITS

Love and Mummies, Part Two; writers, Lewis Trondheim and Zep; artist, Dominique Bertail; publisher, Lion Forge Comics.

Infinity 8 is a joyful bit of European sci-fi comics “for beginners.” The pacing is very modern, the way writers Lewis Trondheim and Zep use dialogue, the way Dominique Bertail introduces new characters and does visual reveals–all very accessible. The design is similarly joyful (down to a smiley faced alien; a big one). It’s pleasant and it’s funny.

It’s also sexy and bloody. It’s gory. It’s a dangerous, disturbing gore but Bertail never breaks mood. It’s an uncaring universe, it just happens to be a preciously illustrated one.

The pacing is particularly phenomenal. Trondheim and Zep set up the protagonist–security agent Yoko Keren–in the first few pages; she’s looking for a mate (she wants a baby) and she can kick ass. None of her potential mates–at least to start–are human. Few are even humanoid. They all want to play baby daddy. It creates a very interesting dynamic.

And then the story moves on. Turns out there’s a very definite plot line, not just Keren’s life aboard ship. Trondheim and Zep do a first act, second act, third act, perfectly paced. And they come up with a fantastic cliffhanger–which they’d been gently foreshadowing for over half the issue; Infinity 8 is great.

CREDITS

Love and Mummies, Part One; writers, Lewis Trondheim and Zep; artist Dominique Bertail; publisher, Lion Forge Comics.