Rivers Of London: Stray Cat Blues TP Review

 

Writer: Andrew Cartmel

Creator: Ben Aaronovitch

Penciler: José María Beroy

Inker: David Cabeza

Colorist: Jordi Escuin Llorach

Letterer: Jim Campbell

Cover Artist: VV Glass

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $17.99

Release Date: December 4, 2024

 

Kitty distributed homegrown marijuana along the river. But after getting busted, Kitty looks after her bedridden Uncle Jake and does community service at Her Haven women’s shelter. One day, her uncle’s neighbor calls with a problem. Gina Penlaw has heard reports of foxes attacking cats and is worried about her canal boat pet. But before Kitty can visit her former accountant, Gina photographs someone tangling with foxes on her boat. Who is this Cat Protector? And who will protect the foxes from her wrath? Let’s sink our claws into the Rivers Of London: Stray Cat Blues TP and find out!

 

Story

Kitty Butchart led an exciting life as the notorious Hoodette. While confined to her wheelchair, Gina helped Kitty with her finances. Now, instead of growing marijuana in the hull of Jake's canal boat, Kitty grows organic tomatoes using her uncle’s magical light. Things are tighter now, as she must pay for Jake’s medical care. Still, Gina’s photo intrigues her.

 

The foxes of London also need help in the Rivers Of London: Stray Cat Blues TP. Lately, a Cat Woman has stopped them from chasing cats away from the trash bins in their territories. When the Cat Woman follows two foxes to Gina's canal boat, she is also drawn there by Uncle Jake's magical light. But then, Stephanie is an enchanted creature. Even if Kitty is fulfilling community service at Her Haven, she understands the plight of endangered and traumatized women.

 

The agents of the Folly know all about Martin Chorley, the magic practitioner who operated The Strip Club Of Doctor Moreau. He created Human-Animal Chimeras like Stephanie to entertain his customers. Now, a gangster and his blind mother hold Stephanie’s sisters captive. The Cat Woman needs help to set them free. What the agents don’t realize is that the foxes have enlisted one of their students to help Stephanie’s sisters escape from the high-security compound of a gangster and his blind mother.

 

In Andrew Cartmel's story, Gina and bedridden Uncle Jake are among those who have traded expensive flats and houses for life along the river. Kitty looks out for her economically and physically challenged friends in the Rivers Of London: Stray Cat Blues TP. How can Kitty say No when Stephanie requests her help, especially when a teenage magician offers to help the Hoodette rescue Cat Women trapped in a life of sexual slavery?

 

Art

A boardwalk covers the towpath where Gina Penlaw and Uncle Jake have tied up. Both have lined their boats with windows to enjoy the daylight and surrounding greenery. Uncle Jake has expanded his boat with a rectangular modernist design in Rivers Of London: Stray Cat Blues TP. The taller boat allows people to care for him in his hospital bed, surrounded by framed Bob Dylan posters. During her visits, Kitty descends a circular staircase to tend tomatoes in wooden beds in the hold.

 

Jordi Escuin Llorach fills José María Beroy and David Cabeza's art with vibrant color. When an orange Fox confronts a tiger-striped cat, an orange and red highlighted purple arm tosses it off the boat. The movement traces red, yellow, and orange through the air before the fox climbs from a river streaked with white, greenish-blue, and purple. After Abigail leaves the white and brown building, she kneels to speak with the foxes while people walk past the wrought iron fencing for a residents-only garden. As the moon shines in a dark blue sky, the pink street reflects the red doubledecker bus as Abigail and the foxes travel toward Gina's green boat.

 

Jim Campbell conjures black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes. The sparse sound effects help us hear the Hoodette extend her baton and a (Fantastic Mr) fox enjoy his cheese puffs. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

A former drug trafficker and a young magician join forces to help Human Feline hybrids escape a life of sexual slavery. The Rivers Of London: Stray Cat Blues TP tackles the criminalization of drug use, the human trafficking that flourishes in "civilized" society, and the socioeconomic factors that push the poor and disadvantaged out of economically prosperous areas.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see my preview at The Dragon's Cache.

Space Job #4 Review

 

Writer: David A. Goodman

Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca

Colorist: Jordi Escuin Llorach

Letterer: Mauro Mantella

Cover Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: 3.99

Release Date: June 28, 2023

 

Operations Officer Travis Biggins wants to quietly resign his commission and depart aboard the space truck after it delivers Captain Olivier's desk. But the S.S. George H.W. Bush's new First Officer—former ensign Francine Masht—insists he organizes a funeral for her predecessor. Will Travis convince Captain Olivier to deliver a eulogy and swap the space service for a better-paying job? Let's warp into Space Job #4 and find out!

 

Story

Despite her rapid promotion, Masht seems centered and capable. She wants to honor her predecessor by respecting the rank he briefly held. Unlike Travis, she overlooks her Captain’s faults because she believes in the importance of the space service.

 

By comparison, Travis blamed Danny's leapfrog advancement on race discrimination. He'll only remain on board the S.S. George H.W. Bush if he can break up the Medical Officer's marriage. To paraphrase Yoda, he's always looking to the future, to the horizon, but never to where he is.

 

Travis’ inability to focus on the present, and the importance of what he’s doing, extends to how much the (still unnamed) Medical Officer wants to make her marriage work. Sadly, the man she loves no longer exists. Possessed by an alien, Helm Officer Rick MacIntyre carries out his duties while observing the human onboard.

 

David A. Goodman ties up several story threads but leaves others dangling in Space Job #4. Like the science fiction TV shows he emulates, this final issue ends on a cliffhanger. Thankfully, character development allows us to savor the humor while identifying and empathizing with them.

 

Art

Alvaro Sarraseca portrays the command crew and medical officer in a life-like and appealing manner. Strangely unaware of how her predecessor died, First Officer Masht has transformed from a lackluster yeoman into a calm, focused officer. I'm sorry we never saw more of the crew. It'd be great to learn how many people serve aboard the S.S. Bush and all the duties they carry out.

 

Jordi Escuin Llorach imbues characters with warmth. Uniforms differentiate crew by their ranks and positions. As they surround Danny's coffin, overhead lights make the coffin gleam. The minnow-like Bush seems less nuanced than before. Space scenes may not make your jaw drop this time around. Still, the lighting and full-spectrum color make you wish you could serve aboard the Bush, especially as Masht seems poised to steer the ship on a more even keel.

 

Mauro Mantella gives black uppercase letters ample spacing, making white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes a joy to read. Colorful and energetic sound effects enliven humorous and poignant moments. Large white letters identify characters breaking the fourth wall and announce the time and space transitions. Greater and Lesser Than symbols remind readers when Travis speaks to the man delivering Olivier’s prized desk in Spanish.

 

Final Thoughts

Humor, character growth, and immersing art propel the wacky but loveable crew of the S.S. George H.W. Bush toward a cliffhanger in Space Job #4. Chart your course for adventure and your mind on a bittersweet cosmic romance.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Space Job #3 Review

 

Writer: David A. Goodman

Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca

Colorist: Jordi Escuin Llorach

Letterer: Mauro Mantella

Cover Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: 3.99

Release Date: April 12, 2023

 

After First Officer Danny Sheridan’s death, Admiral Newman assigned the S.S. George H.W. Bush to join the battle in the Bungo Straits. Captain Olivier left the space station, hoping to escape the system before the Clooney's rendezvous to transfer his cargo. But he’s still waiting for his desk to arrive and needs a scientific pretext to remain in the system. Can Captain Olivier get his new desk, continue his cargo run, and keep his crew out of a warzone? Let’s beam aboard the S.S. George H.W. Bush with Space Job #3 and find out!

 

Story

The Chief Medical Officer is depressed. Her husband, Helm Officer Rick MacIntyre, no longer seems interested in her. When Ensign Masht asks her about the First Officer’s status, she welcomes the distraction. Naturally, all she can say is that he's dead, and no, that won't change.

 

When Midshipman Rhee finds a comet, Operations Officer Travis Biggins doesn't know how to react. What exactly do they have to learn by studying a comet? At least Captain Olivier's happy, as he's got a reason to stick around now. But he doesn't like to use the translator, and the pilot delivering his desk speaks Spanish. Negotiating with the pilot takes Travis' mind off his dilemma over remaining in the Navy or resigning to become a drug rep.

 

Despite the abundance of wacky humor, I could relate to everyone in Space Job #3. I learned the history of human space exploration from the alien possessing Rick MacIntyre. Understanding what drove this expansion helped me understand the dynamics underlying this series. After the previous issue’s backstory, Captain Olivier has grown on me. How can you not admire someone who resolutely works the system to accomplish his goals? I’m still connecting names with characters from TV shows, movies, and the history of space exploration. I hope we learn the Medical Officer's name before the series ends.

 

Art

We see Neil Armstrong's lunar module and the ultimate result of his Giant Leap For Mankind. A battle involving astronauts seems straight out of Moonraker, and a fleet of ships reminded me of the mural in Houston’s Johnson Space Center cafeteria. Alvaro Sarraseca portrays characters consistently, and panels express what each is feeling. I didn’t need to see Captain Olivier on the toilet again, and Sarraseca could have provided more visual interest to some interior scenes. Still, the Bush's bridge resembles the revamped Enterprise on Star Trek Strange New Worlds, and the way Olivier talks to the Clooney's captain via hologram reminds me of the production department's original plans for the canceled Star Trek: Phase II.

 

Colors fill the void between stars in Space Job #3. Colorful ships transport cargo, and the Bush resembles a minnow approaching the glowing, jellyfish-like comet. Overhead lighting and viewscreens give the bridge drama and depth. The green light on a communications panel highlights Captain Olivier's features. Shadows play across Travis Biggins' face and uniform, helping us sympathize with the Operation Officer's relationship and career dilemmas.

 

Easy-to-read uppercase letters inhabit white dialogue balloons. Voices from the com units inhabit balloons crossed by four X-like hash marks. Lightning bolt arrows link the hologram of the Clooney's captain to his dialogue balloons. Mathematical symbols for Greater Than and Less Than reveal the incomprehensible foreign language spoken by the pilot delivering Captain Olivier's desk. Conversations laid over space scenes inhabit rectangular yellow narrative boxes. The occasional stressed letter grows bold when a crewmember points out that Captain Olivier mispronounces his (or her) name. Once or twice, dialogue balloons could provide better flow. The uppercase letters on the final page—telling us the story will continue—remind me of a fraternity's Greek letters.

 

Final Thoughts

Despite an overwhelming number of moving parts, everything comes together in Space Job #3 to propel this series forward. Characters work toward accomplishing their goals and making their lives count. A series that started as merely wacky fun takes on a greater scope. As always, gorgeous art provides a feast for those eyeing the final frontier.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch

Space Job #2 Review

 

Space Job #2 Review

Writer: David A. Goodman

Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca

Colorist: Jordi Escuin Llorach

Letterer: Mauro Mantella

Cover Artist: Alvaro Sarraseca

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: 3.99

Release Date: March 8, 2023

 

Captain Olivier accepts cargo runs to keep out of battles. His Operations Officer wants to leave the service and become a drug rep. The Chief Medical Officer worries her marriage is falling apart. And will anyone ever fix that exploding chair on the bridge? Let’s shuttle over to Space Job #2 and find out!

 

Story

The admiral keeps trying to assign Captain Olivier to the Bungo Straits. Olivier hedges that newly minted First Officer Sheridan might pull through. The Chief Medical Officer can only shake her head when he calls her for an update on Sheridan's status. Poor Danny is dead, the victim of the exploding chair. Why doesn't Olivier get that? Strangely, she misses the connection between her husband's obsession with an alien artifact and his sudden lack of interest in her.

 

Why does the ship need a First Officer to complete a cargo run but not to join a battle squadron? Why would Helm Officer Rick MacIntyre tell Captain Olivier he bonded psychically with an alien entity yet not tell his wife? How could a crew be so dysfunctional? Well, consider who sits in the big chair. (The one that doesn't explode). Whatever you do, don't spread any rumors about Captain Olivier taking an extended detour to pick up a desk he won on eBay because that's not the case!

 

Art

Like a minnow swimming through space, the S.S. George H.W. Bush jets away from the space station Danny Sheridan once called home. Captain Olivier could use a haircut. He would benefit from more gym sessions. The Chief Medical Officer's features and body language convey her concern for her marriage. They also hint at her growing attraction to Operations Officer Travis Biggins. I wish artist Alvaro Sarraseca had distinguished the male members of the bridge crew more. I preferred how he visualized memories in the previous issue to Space Job #2's abrupt flashbacks. But I loved the box of Space Nuts cereal, and the scene when Rick MacIntyre found the alien entity reminded me of a scene in Galaxy Quest.

 

Colorist Jordi Escuin Llorach casts small shadows to suggest overhead lighting. Uniforms reveal texture, highlights, and shading. Light plays upon crew faces, altering skin color and revealing contours. Spaceship engines glow with radiance (even when the Chief Engineer has shut them down). Llorach makes panels, instruments, and monitors glow with radiant color in Space Job #2. But that's nothing compared to the kaleidoscope of color we glimpse through viewports or see in exterior shots of the S.S. George H.W. Bush.

 

Mauro Mantella makes uppercase letters more expressive in this second issue. Larger and smaller words, bold and italicized letters, sing an aria filled with emotion and intonation. Big White letters on colored panels identify locations, times, and officers. Sound effects help us hear Captain Olivier's plate break when it hits the floor and feel the explosion when the ship's former captain loses his life. I wonder about his missions and if he was a better officer than Olivier.

 

Final Thoughts

After a head-scratcher start, Space Job #2 gets this series moving. Don't expect anything in this story to make sense: half the fun is that it doesn't. Quirky, oddball humor enhances thoughtful character portrayals and an intriguing mystery. Captain Olivier may never command a starship on the Paramount+ network, but the luminous art evokes all the grandeur of TV shows like Discovery, Strange New Worlds, and Picard.

 

Rating 8.8/10

 

To view the preview art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.