Dark Matter

I’ve read a couple Archie comics in my youth but, short of that, I have never read a comic book or graphic novel. I am also not particularly interested in the Sci-fi genre–perhaps due to lack of exposure?

There. I’ve just given you a couple valid reasons to discount the following review–if you can even call it that– of the first two issues of Dark Matter (written by the lovely Joe Mallozzi and Paul Mullie), and dismiss this as the ravings of an uninformed novice.

Also, there will be spoilers…LOTS.

Ok, so a crew of six awaken on a spaceship with no memory of how they got there, where they were going, or who they are. They do appear to have selective abilities that are unaffected by the memory loss — like ninja-esque samurai-sword skills, and uncalled for karate-kicks to the face. A lethal bunch, it seems…

I found some humour (intentional, I think) in the opening pages as everyone scratches their heads, repeatedly asking – “who are you?”, “I don’t know, who are you?”. I think this is an exciting place to join in the action as the characters have to quickly negotiate relationships and assess levels of trust–some are more wary than others. Without the comfort of memories and facts, the crew is forced to operate on gut-instincts alone. As this is a first issue, the premise, personalities, and the world they inhabit have to be established so as to get on with the fun secrets and mystery. The crew encounters an android that serves to reveal expository information such as the fact that all data relating to the ship’s crew and mission have been mysteriously, and seemingly deliberately, erased. This means that one of the six knows more than they’re letting on…maybe.

This leads me to the issue of characterization. The characters don’t know themselves or each other and this can make it difficult for the reader to connect with, or even identify, certain individuals as they initially seem a bit…blank–rightly so, they’ve just awoken to an unknown world. I would also like to add this this problem is unique to the comic format, I believe. If this were a TV series, the voices and expressions of the actors would be enough to differentiate them, but as these characters are confined to still images, I initially found it difficult to tell them apart or attribute them with personalities. While I found this a bit difficult, I can appreciate the choice of placing the reader in the same position of ignorance as that of the crew. Besides that, I was pretty well sorted out midway through the second issue.

Again, I’m no expert here, but I thought the artwork by Garry Brown was very stylized and suited the subject matter. It is muted in colour–dark and shadowy–which lends to the sort of desolate, trapped-in-outer-space-with-no-place-to-go thing.

The first issue left my interest piqued, although I have no idea what went down with that he/she ninja at the end. Seriously? Am I supposed to know whether that’s a guy or girl? The face is very feminine, but then there’s the giant muscles. In any case, I don’t trust that one. Too quiet. But I also suspect that I’m being misdirected!

The second issue was a good deal more fun for me. You can see the relationships and bonds forming, and I can finally tell the two white guys apart! And WOAH. That creepy kid with the bizarrely extensive medical knowledge is a girl! Most importantly, we discover that this ragtag bunch of misfits are not the heroes we may have first imagined, but criminals with impressive wrap-sheets! A shocking twist! And no, I didn’t see it coming. Fun! I’m hoping for a good bunch of antiheroes.

At this point, I am most interested in the little girl and the androgynous ninja. The kid isn’t included in the crew’s data file, so where’d she come from? I like that she seems a bit dangerous. I’m expecting backstories filled with brutal betrayals and bloody battles! And maybe some heartache? Ninja looks so sad…

The question I’m left with is can this 4-part series develop into something more? Once the characters are fully formed and their purposes have been made clear, can my interest be maintained beyond the initial mystery and intrigue of the unknown? Cause that’s the fun part! Looking forward to seeing how it all plays out…

All in all, I can honestly say it’s among the best comics I’ve ever read.

I easily obtained my copies on my iPad from the Dark Horse Comics app. Or you could go to your local comic book store and get a good ol’ fashioned hard-copy. In any case, check it out!

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