Since I heavily enjoyed the expansive science fiction universe crafted by Rick Remender in Seven to Eternity, I figured it would be a good idea to check out another science fiction book from him. Black Science is published by Image Comics and was released in 2013 through to 2019. The book is written by Remender and features artwork from Matteo Scalera. The story totals 43 issues, but today I’ll be giving my initial thoughts on the first volume which collects issues 1-6. I plan to then review the rest of the series in a second article to give my thoughts on the ending.

The story of Black Science follows Grant McKay. Grant is a scientific genius who develops an interdimensional travel device known as The Pillar. He hopes to use the device to solve the biggest problems in the universe as the multiverse contains an almost limitless variety of knowledge. However, during the initial exploration test of the device the team discovers it’s been sabotaged. As a result, the team becomes stranded in the endless multiverse constantly hopping from one dangerous universe to the next on their quest to return to their own reality.

I enjoy how Remender isn’t afraid to throw readers directly into the action; it’s a great way to hook readers before working backward to provide context. The various universes on display here are also incredibly intriguing. Scalera’s artwork brings each one to life, igniting the imagination in a way that will have you eagerly flipping through every page. The infinite possibilities of the multiverse ensure that every chapter will contain new threats, challenges, and environments to explore.

The only drawback of this setting is that sometimes you’ll wish you could spend more time in certain universes. For example, there’s one in which Europe is invaded by a united force of Native American tribes equipped with futuristic cybernetic technology. This concept alone makes for a great story, but we only get a small snapshot before swapping to the next place. I could see this being a problem as the story progresses.

Most universes in this volume operate similarly to our own, with the key difference being the alien populations. If in the future Remender decides to introduce more complex universes that defy the laws of conventional reality, this could cause whiplash given you’ll be forced to adjust to new rules. I could also see the breakneck pacing of the early issues leaving some readers frustrated. However, I promise you that this does improve. The side characters are given some attention that will help flesh out the tenuous family relationships that define Grant’s actions and frustrations.

As is typical with Remender’s work, our main cast is filled with incredibly flawed individuals, adding a strong dramatic conflict amongst the exploration team. While certain elements within this conflict are certainly commonplace in science fiction narratives, the execution remains solid throughout. Remender also throws in a gutsy twist at the end of issue six that certainly caught me off guard. As a result, I never found myself losing interest and I am excited to see how the series will develop in the later issues.

Overall, I feel that this is another well-constructed debut for Rick Remender. I’m hoping that the story can maintain it’s quality over the next 30 issues as the setup is quite promising. I’d especially recommend this book if you love films such as Everything Everywhere All At Once. It hits on similar themes though is certainly a little bit darker in terms of tone.

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Black Science

$9.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Strong, flawed characters
• Imaginative artwork
• Constantly shifting threats

Cons

• Pacing is very quick
• Snapshot settings