Comic Review: Outpost Zero #7

Outpost Zero #7

Image Comics

Writer: Sean McKeever

Artist: Jean-Francois Beaulieu & Alexandre Tefenkgi

Outpost Zero is one of those comics that I’d see on the shelf each month, and the cover would intrigue me. However, the fact that it focuses on a more YA audience stalled my hand when push came to shove. This week, though, I finally took the plunge and caught up on all seven issues. The result: a pleasant surprise.

Story:

Outpost Zero documents an outpost of stranded humans on an arctic planet. While this is the skin it wears as a genre (SF), the true story lies in the complex relationships in the form of cultural taboos, forsaken love, freedom of choice, and much more.

In #7 Discovery Team has mined their way through a mountain of snow and ice that was dumped on the colonies dome from a mega-storm. At the same time, Lyss, Elea, and Sam, three teenage residents, attempt to discover what lies beneath the outpost.  Whatever is down there, someone is trying to keep secret.

Characters:

Everyone in this comic is complex. The least filled out characters are, perhaps, Elea’s parents, but even they have hopes and dreams for their lives and their daughter that come across as genuine. Most intriguing aside from the mysteries beneath Outpost Zero is the character of Mitchell. A 14-year-old kickboxer with severe anger issues and broken family life, what was once introduced as a whiny and overly dramatic tough man-child, is later revealed with considerable depth. The same can be said for Karen, the Chief of the station. #7 fills out her motives for adopting Sam when his parents died, as well as why their relationship is so strained all the time.

Art:

The art in this piece is solid. I don’t really know how else to put it. The characters are relatable, some of the scenes are beautiful, and all of it just seems to work. However, there’s nothing that draws the eye. Nothing that makes readers rethink what they know about comic book art–and to be honest, that’s not what this story strives for. In future issues, my hope is the world fills out a bit more, becomes more expansive. This gives the artists more opportunity to showcase their abilities. For this story, the art, simply, works and tells the story well, but don’t expect many fireworks.

Conclusion:

While doubts plagued me before I began reading, after the first 7 issues, I’m sticking with it. Where it shines most is in its characters who are diverse in perspective as much as in motives and problems. Outpost Zero #7, and as a series has captured my attention, and it’s certainly worth your time.