Anomaly

In the year 2717, an interplanetary first contact mission to an unexplored, sentient-inhabited planet dubbed Anomaly unwittingly finds itself set up by a corrupt government official who, in order to further his own nefarious schemes, arranges for them to be stranded without hope of returning. All previous expeditions from a conglomerate-run Earth lost contact upon arrival at the unexplored world and were presumed lost, and when this team’s technology falls victim to the planet’s polymer-devouring organisms, the survivors must contend with an unknown and hostile environment without the benefit of equipment or supplies. They also encounter the planet’s very diverse, warlike inhabitants in adventures fraught with redemption and transformation for the troubled protagonist, the team’s physically enhanced military muscle, Jon. To say more would give away the very interesting surprises of this massive tome, the size of a small flat-screen TV, and painted in concept art detail on every panel by Haberlin. It’s a spectacular work whose storytelling looks and feels like a movie. Loaded with impressive painted visuals, an exciting story that fleshes out its characters and their very well-developed worlds, and a very engaging cast, this one’s a winner from start to finish. (Oct.)