Publisher: ComixTribe
Writer: Sam Read
Artist: Caio Oliveira
Colours: Marissa Louise
Cover: Ramon Villalobos
Lettering/Production: Colin Bell
Release Date: 28th October, 2015
Facing a resource shortage that threatens the future of the entire planet Earth, the human race – in a final act of desperation – assembles several gargantuan ships with the aim of abandoning their overcrowded planet in search of a new future. The only trouble is, there isn’t enough room for everyone. Unexpectedly however, their departure turns the world into a virtual paradise, with the reduced strain on food and resources providing everyone with more than they could ever need. The premise of Exit Generations is brilliantly well-conceived in and of itself, but kicks into another gear when marauding aliens invade earth looking for some resources of their own – namely some humans to eat!
While this second issue doesn’t necessarily have the same emotional gut-punch of the first one (particularly the first issue’s opening segment, which I still hold as quite possibly the best start to a small press comic that I’ve ever read), it does go a long way towards developing the overall storyline, as well as adding a few interesting new faces along the way. We find out a little more about the aliens and their motivations, as well as discovering that this new race may not be quite as ‘wicked’ as we’d first thought – not all of them, anyway.
As with the first issue, Sam Read’s aliens are utterly fantastic, although they come across as a lot more menacing the second time around as their previously humorous ‘culinary’ adjectives give way to flat-out threats and displays of aggression. The new additions to the story – trader “Scrap” and his surrogate daughter Hanna (or “Han”, to you) – are both brilliantly realised, with Read’s strong dialogue giving them each a distinctly unique voice. Of the four main characters, best friend Mo probably comes across as the least developed thus far, and his characterisation seems to be a little off as he rapidly switches from weeping for his abducted family to wise-cracking about guns and spaceships over the course of just a few pages. This is just a minor complaint though, especially given how well-rounded the other three are.
Caio Oliveira’s artwork continues to be of its usual high standard here, providing some wonderful visual designs for the new characters and keeping the flow of the narrative surging forwards with his crisp, measured panel layouts. One panel in particular – containing a “training montage” scene where Jack and Mo get to grips with firearms – is absolutely fantastic, and showcases the boundless creativity of Oliveira as an artist. As with the previous issue, Oliveira’s images are brought to life by some vibrant, energetic colour work. The only different being that the colours are provided this time by Marissa Louise rather than Ruth Redmond.
The first issue of Exit Generations was always going to be a tough act to follow in my mind, but Read and Oliveira have done a solid job here of building and expanding upon their stellar opening chapter. The pace is a little slower than in issue one, which is probably a wise decision, but the final panel leaves no doubt in anyone’s mind that things are going to be ramped up significantly in issue three – and, having already read the final two issues, I can gleefully confirm that this is most definitely the case. Brilliantly creative sci-fi filled with flash, style and humour, Exit Generations is a title you truly owe it to yourself to pick up.
Rating: 4/5.
PREVIEW ARTWORK
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The writer of this piece was: 
Craig Neilson-Adams (aka Ceej)
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