This is the only BOOM! series that I’ve been following with any regularity. The first issue was a winner and the last two issues proved that this book was more than just a hip concept. By the way, that hip concept is this: a cosmonaut is murdered on an international space station, and everyone’s a culprit. The 128 page TPB collecting the entire 4 issues is out in December if you want to read the complete thriller, but every issue has been structured well enough that they stand on their own very well, like little shots of caffeine. Writer Johanna Stokes has a TV background, so it’s no surprise that she crafts each ish tightly. They give just enough character moments and intrigue to keep the story moving to its inevitable conclusion.
We witness two more deaths in this final issue. Usually deaths in space involve aliens or asteroids, so the more scientific (but no less humane) deaths presented in this series is a novel one. I’ve seen my fair share of horror films over the years, so it’s good to see some unique fatalities presented in Station. They may be bloodless, but no less painful.
Having the guilty party discovered in the first few pages is also an interesting device. It’s not who I was expecting, and red herrings were planted across all three previous books, throwing most readers off the scent I’d imagine. The killer’s motivation is not a new one though, and all is not said and done after the big reveal. The station is falling apart, the shuttle that was their only means of survival is drifting off into nothingness and more finger pointing and shouting ensues. It looks like no-one will survive this mess, but somehow two manage to.
The last page is rather poetic (despite the grammatical error) but may be a let down for some after the rather hectic pace throughout the series. The pencils in this final ish, by Leno Carvalho aren’t as strong as the earlier outings either. There certainly appeared to be less detail and scientific gadgets here, and it was those elements that helped sell the initial claustrophobia. Those are minor gripes though and I’m so glad I stuck with this title since its inception. It probably could have managed an extra issue or two, as we never really came to understand the large cast, which quickly dwindles to 3 survivors in #4. However, Stokes and Carvalho have presented a nice package here, and the level of research Stokes must have done has paid off to sell the realism, matching perfectly with Carvalho’s almost-Bryan Hitch level of artistry.
If you want something apart from the capes crowd, check the Station collection out next month. It’s worth reading it all the way through.
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