Publisher: Never Ever Press/DoGooder Comics
Writer(s): Michael Park, Chris Baldie
Artist: Chris Baldie
Additional Art & Story: Dave Morrow
Release Date: 15th November 2014 (Thought Bubble)

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Space Captain, the third and final title from DoGooder Comics set to make its debut at this weekend’s Thought Bubble Festival, is a book which, initially at least, plays its cards fairly close to its chest. For the first half of this first issue we’re essentially playing catch-up, trying to piece the snippets of narrative together and becoming deeply invested in both the overarching story and our main protagonist in the process. We need to know just how this strange mustachioed man wound up frozen in the ice of a strange alien world, and find ourselves caring deeply about his burning desire to return to his family. Which, for a first issue, is pretty much all you could hope for.

Funded by an impressively successful Kickstarter Campaign, Space Captain is the brainchild of Michael Park and Chris Baldie, and introduces us to… actually, hang on. No. I’m not going to delve too deeply into the details of the story for this one, for fear of diminishing your reading experience. This is a book where I think a lack of prior knowledge can only be a good thing. Go in blind like I did, and gradually immerse yourself in this captivating, multi-layered story. You can thank me later.

One thing I can talk about however is Baldie’s brilliantly distinctive artwork, effectively blending the cartoony style of the main characters with some deeply expressive, emotional moments and beautifully choreographed violence. His use of colour is perhaps the most striking aspect of this book, with the muted palette and measured use of shadow giving everything an impressive level of depth. The titular ‘Space Captain’ is also a truly intriguing visual creation, coming across like a slightly downbeat version of Hergé’s Captain Haddock, and conveying the majority of his emotions via some impressively articulate eyebrows. Baldie’s panels aren’t crammed with unnecessary detail, keeping things clean and fluid as the story moves forwards. His page layouts also merit praise, with a decidedly cinematic approach used to deliver some of the key storyline beats.

Space Captain is a title that undoubtedly keeps things interesting throughout every one of its 34 pages. There are chuckles to be had along the way, a wide-reaching backstory just begging to be revealed, and – in the case of one particular page near the end – the occasional unexpected gut-punch of emotion. Rather than just a showcase for the award-blitzing Dungeon Fun, DoGooder Comics is rapidly putting together an incredibly exciting stable of up-and-coming creators and titles, and Space Captain more than holds its own amongst such a talented roster. One of the most impressive titles I’ve read so far in the lead-up to Thought Bubble, and one whose praises I’m sure I’m going to be singing for a long time to come.

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If you’re at Thought Bubble this year, you can grab yourself a copy of Space Captain: Captain of Space from DoGooder Comics at Table 161 in the New Dock Hall.  The book will be available online shortly thereafter.

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The writer of this piece was: Craig Neilson (aka Ceej)
Article Archive: Ceej Says
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