Black Science, Vol. 1

Fantastic voyages, whether in SF or comics, seldom go smoothly for their crews, and this one is a killer. Scientist Grant McKay, his family, and colleagues set out on a desperate journey when his dimension-hopping invention is sabotaged and they’re catapulted into deadly parallel worlds. The book jumps directly into an action sequence; multiple flashbacks piece together the story as it progresses, filling in the blanks on the “Dimensionauts” and their pasts. The thrill of the story is found not only in the lethal, imaginative other earths, but also in the dysfunction and brutal infighting of a group torn apart by lies and accusations. Not everyone on this team will survive the journey, but can any of them get home? Is there a reality where it all didn’t go so wrong? The rapid-fire dialogue from Remender (Fear Agent, Uncanny X-Force) matches the constant barrage of broken promises and misguided alliances in his story. Scalera and White’s art is similarly angular, with bold colors and Japanese speed lines that keep the action at breakneck speed. This is a solid adventure tale with a dark undertone that stands in stark contrast to comics’ usual optimistic view of knowledge. (June)