Retro Review: Black Science Vol 1 How to Fall Forever

Word: Rick Remember
Pictures: Matteo Scalera
Colors: Dean White
Words: Rus Wooton
Publisher: Image Comics

Synopsis: Anarchist scientist Grant McKay has done the impossible! Using the Pillar, he has punched a hole through the barriers between dimensions, allowing travel to all possible universes. But now Grant and his team are trapped in the folds of infinity, the Pillar sending them careening through a million universes of unimaginable adventure, sanity-flaying danger and no way home…

Presenting the first mind-warping chapter of the critically acclaimed sci-fi epic by superstar creative team of writer RICK REMENDER (Uncanny Avengers, Captain America) and artist MATTEO SCALERA (Secret Avengers).

Collects BLACK SCIENCE #1-6.

Black Science is a trip. The story follows Grant and his kids (Pia and Nathan), along with the team of scientists working on the Pillar; and it pretty much starts out in the shit. You learn the Pillar is broken and they have no control over the which dimension they jump to or when. You don’t get back story right out the gate, but it works well in the flashbacks as the story goes on.

The book is well written. Remember does a good job of introducing the characters and progressing the story simultaneously. If there is one flaw with the characters, it’s with Grant; he’s an unconventional guy and you get hints of it, but you never get the “anarchist” vibe from the synopsis.

Remember also does a good job with these alternate dimensions. He set up exotic setting. Frog people, technological Native American warriors fighting Nazis, and spiritual apes are all seen with different jumps. Scalera beautifully draws it all.

The art is top notch. You never question which character is which and each dimension feel completely different from the last. Scalera shows he can do sweeping landscapes and action in the book. Add in White’s paint on top of the drawings and you get a visually stunning book.

A few spoilers: You learn Grant is sleeping with Rebecca, one of the other scientists, and was planning on leaving his wife, Sara. You learn that someone in the group sabotaged the Pillar. You learn that Kadir is a slimeball, but has promise. You seen members of the group getting picked off. You also see a hitchhiker join the group, and I’m not talking about the Shaman. Most important of all, you see a version of Grant and Sara from another dimension, trying to save the kids because their Grant can’t.

End spoilers.

The book is big jump into science fiction and might not be for all people. It’s full of wide spread action that just scratches the surface in the first volume. I’ve already picked up volumes 2 and 3.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.