Today’s edition of comic book catch up brings us two comics that are worlds apart. Both stylistically and thematically, Murder Falcon and Infinite Dark show us that Image Comics publishes a wide variety of content. However, that content may not be for everybody. 

• Infinite Dark #1 by Image Comics
• Written by Ryan Cady
• Art by Andrea Mutti
• Rated T+

Infinite Dark has so much intrigue in the first issue, #2 can’t come here fast enough. On a remote outpost in space, we find the last of humanity. In a space station with room for thousands, we only find those who built and constructed the vessel not realizing that the rest of the intended population would never join them. That alone would be enough to excite me to learn more about this world, but nope, writer Ryan Cady throws in abduction and murder too! Sign me up!

If I didn’t know better, I would think Infinite Dark would fit seamlessly as a sequel to Netflix’s The Cloverfield Paradox or somewhere along the lines of the movie Event Horizon. Infinite Dark is dark, both visually and thematically, but it shines as a bright light of an example of science fiction at its best. In just the first issue alone, you really get the sense of an expansive world, despite the confined quarters of space station The Orpheus. Just like space itself, the options for where Cady and Mutti can take this series is near limitless, and this one is definitely worth checking out.

• Murder Falcon #1 by Image Comics
• Written by Daniel Warren Johnson
• Art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
• Rated T

I don’t normally just give you a verbatim run-down of the comic’s description from the publisher, but this one demands it:

The world is under attack by monsters, and Jake’s life is falling apart: no band, no girl, no future… until he meets Murder Falcon. He was sent from The Heavy to destroy all evil, but he can’t do it without Jake shredding up a storm. Now, with every chord Jake plays on his guitar, the power of metal fuels Murder Falcon into all-out kung fu fury on those that seek to conquer Earth.

This description sounds like it would be right up my alley, right? Listen, I love absurdism. I love giant city-destroying monsters. And I also love face-melting rock ‘n’ roll. Despite Murder Falcon having all three, I was supremely underwhelmed with the debut issue.

Reading Murder Falcon, I came to the realization that the plot seems like it was developed by a stoned 17-year-old in his first band. With the words on the page, I felt I was reading an illustrated version of a Tenacious D album. I mean, there’s dialogue like “Together with the power of rock, we might be able to fix the tear that haunts all humans.” Despite my distaste for the dialogue, the artwork in this book is top notch, so at least it has that going for it.

I loved the human look at a suffering musician who is depressed and down on his luck. I also love the idea of a world with giant creatures intent on destruction, but the ‘roided out falcon with stilted dialogue isn’t the best delivery method for a story about humanity, alien destruction, or both.

I realize my review is far from glowing, but I don’t hate the book. I think in the right setting it might do well (perhaps one where we could hear the music that would provide a soundtrack for the unusual tale). I’m all for exploring passion projects and quirky tales. I just don’t know if, in the deluge of new media, your time wouldn’t be better spent elsewhere. Anyway, at least now you know I don’t only provide glowing reviews.