SuperSearnold - Comic Book Reviews

Greetings from your friendly neighborhood Searnold [Shár- Nŭhld].  Welcome to my comic book review blog - thanks for checking it out!

Today I’ll be taking a look at a new title from publisher IDW: Galaxy Quest - Global Warning #1.  This title is written by long time X-Men creative force Scott Lobdell with arts by Ilias Kyriazis (don’t worry - I’d never heard of him, either - sorry Ilias.  Ilias is the creative force behind ”Melody,” one of the comics appearing at DC’s new online comic site, Zuda.  [Side note for the side note - Ilias doesn’t have a wikipedia page.  Someone out there in the ether should really get on that.])

Galaxy Quest - Global Warning picks up the story of the Galaxy Quest movie back from 1999 (remember that one?)  And I want to say one thing about that: what took so long?  And why now?  Just seems like odd timing.

For those not familiar, Galaxy Quest is essentially a spoof on Star Trek.  A group of actors on a popular sci-fi show called Galaxy Quest (which is an overt Star Trek rip off) accidentally find themselves mixed up in ACTUAL space adventures.  This comic book takes place an unknown amount of time after the movie.  Galaxy Quest (having been previously cancelled) is being relaunched.  Most of the issue focuses on the actors’ reactions to this, but there are clear signs towards the end that there will be more space adventures next issue.

If you haven’t seen the movie, then don’t bother reading the comic book.  Actually, if you haven’t seen the movie, go watch the movie - then if you like it, pick up the comic book.  Maybe.  It’s certainly not a BAD comic book.  But there definitely wasn’t sufficient characterization to make anyone who wasn’t already familiar with these characters care about their exploits.  And (at least in this first issue) their exploits are fairly minimal.  Not a lot actually happens in this first issue.  I guess this issue serves as a re-introduction to the world (it has, after all, been 9 years since the movie).  It’s all about the set up for this new adventure - but it’s not set up well enough for people not previously interested to care.  And because they spent the whole issue with set up, I can’t tell you whether or not it’s worth spending money on until I see how the story progresses.  As a stand alone, I certainly can’t recommend Galaxy Quest - Global Warning #1.  This issue is even riddled with catch phrases from the movie that - quite frankly - have no meaning without that context.  Characterization is minimal - which is fine for those of us who already know these characters - but a poor choice, in my opinion, if they hope to hook any new readers.

There is also an artistic point I took issue with: I didn’t recognize the characters the way they were drawn.  I knew who they were, certainly.  I could tell them apart.  But Commander Peter Quincy Taggart didn’t look anything like Tim Allen, Tech Sergeant Chen wasn’t even recognizable as Tony Shalhoub, and Dr. Lazarus only resembled Alan Rickman while in makeup.  The appearance differences were disconcerting enough to distract from the reading experience.

So you know what?  Go ahead and skip this issue unless you’re a die hard Galaxy Quest fan who can’t believe it’s taken 9 years to get their continuing adventures published.  Once more issues have been published, I’ll take a look at the series as a whole.  If by then it tells a complete narrative I’ll be able to give it a better review.

As always - thanks for reading - see you tomorrow!  Same Bat Time.  Same Bat Blog.”
-Searnold