- Space Dragon
- Critical Entertainment
- Written by: Christopher Reda
- Illustrated by: Alonso Molina Gonzales
- Lettered by: Travis Lanham
- Cover B Variant by: Devin Kurtz
- 115 Pages – 7.5″ x 12″ Extra Large Trade
After his habitat planet runs dry, a gigantic Dragon travels through space in search of a new water source with an Alien Bird passenger; but when he fails to find any drinkable water, the Dragon must learn to push on through the unknown to avoid dying of thirst.
I’m not sure how you’d classify a book like Space Dragon. There’s a lot going on in these pages, while at the same time stands as a beautiful example of dialogue-free storytelling. In this star-spanning epic, readers follow a creature of gargantuan size trying to survive a hostile galaxy. For bonus points, there’s a bonus parallel story about an accidental passenger trapped inside the dragon like the Biblical Jonah… as vast and inhospitable an environment within as without. The two are stuck with each other, neither fully aware of the other’s presence.
Christopher Reda has been putting together great stories while at the helm of Critical Entertainment, and each comic I’ve read has been far removed from the one before it. Two of his books I’ve seen, this and the western thriller Cowboy with Many Hats, have embraced the minimalist approach. In both cases, the intent of the stories comes through without having to rely on heavy dialogue. In Space Dragon Reda pushes that concept to eleven, running two characters through their intertwined stories without a single word spoken.
Jumping feetfirst into the concept of visual storytelling, artist Alonso Molina Gonzales takes Reda’s script (I have to wonder what that looked like with no dialogue) and makes it all happen. From open space to alien landscapes, Gonzales puts his environments on full display but doesn’t let the spectacle overshadow the characters. And there are moments of great character-building while we’re following the separate but parallel lives of two very divergent creatures. That’s where Gonzales gets put to the test, creating that development without the benefit of dialogue.
Speaking of, I have to give a nod to letterer Travis Lanham. While there isn’t anything here that qualifies as “speech”, there’s still work to be done. With monster growls and onomatopoeia, Lanham works to blend his work into the backgrounds, part of the panel without interrupting the art.
Don’t sleep on this one. Space Dragon is a great story for all ages, with maybe some parental input. There are moments of whimsy mixed with the drama in this unique survival tale. Pop over to the Critical Entertainment site and take a gander. While you’re at it, wander around the virtual shop and see what else might catch your eye.
Final Score: 12/13
