Monster Planet #1
Zenescope (Brusha / Mueller)
Mankind has all but been wiped out…decimated by a virus that turns us into primal beasts. Only a handful of humans are left struggling to survive in a hostile world. But scientists among them have discovered a way to cure the virus. To save us they must call on monsters of our nightmares…vampires, werewolves and worse…who hold the key to the cure. Now one team is in a race against time to find the lord of the vampires and convince him to help save the thing he despises most…man.
This is Underworld meets The Warriors
First off, I love this premise! Yes, I’m a sucker for creature-filled apocalyptic stories and I also love a good classic “monsters hidden among us” tale, either one of these whets my fanboy appetite and makes me hungry for more. What writer Joe Brusha has done is brought both of these iconic concepts together and created a adrenaline-laced synthesis of a treat that makes me wish I had the entire series in front of me… to put it in old school terms, he has put some very tasty chocolate in my peanut butter (or possibly he got peanut butter on my chocolate).
The series takes place in a half-destroyed and seemingly abandoned Chicago. No better place for a throwdown between legendary creatures of lore, genetically mutated lizard folk and special ops forces. Brusha fills the first ish of this yarn with military bravado, uneasy alliances, awesome action and of course the promise of saving the world. Yes, the dialog and flow is a bit campy, but that only adds to the delight of this theatrical narrative. The art team led by Marcelo Mueller nails the dark and adventurous tone of high action and dramatic reveal. The dark coloring, use of shade and precise inking expertly give this story gothic life. With a story like this, it would have been easy to phone in the art but from a leftover pile of human remains to the far away shot of a strike team moving through an abandoned hotel to character close-ups – the art team steps up and uses a great number of visual tools to flesh out this incredible story.
The Bottom Line: If you decided to buy a comic called Monster Planet, this is everything you thought it would be, but better!
Rating: 11
