Planetoid 2 by Ken Garing

Writer and Artist: Ken Garing

Publisher: Image Comics

There is one big thing I left out of my review of the first book: Our hero is on a planet that looks to entrap any vessel that lands on it. You can land on this planet but it looks like you can’t leave because of massive interference by magnetic storms. It’s not clear what creates this interference but everyone on this planet believes that they’re not ever going to leave. One more point: All of the machines have been taken over by what looks to be a mean spirited and dangerous AI. So all the machines are programmed to kill.

You can also read the earlier review here if you click on my name or google it.

When we start this issue’s journey we find that our hero is climbing up something called “The Slab” where what’s left of human life on this godforsaken world (and “godforsaken” should be said in the same way that Charlton Heston says this or this...) and he leaves the old man who saved his life down below to fend for himself, although it looks like he can do that quite well. He makes the climb and finds a coliseum. Or this:

You have to admire the pacing here. It’s kind of like watching a film where people sit down and talk to each other. You get to watch this character figure out things, with his helpful talking AI Richter of course. (Where is that computer again? Inside him or in his clothes? Not quite clear how that works…Okay checked the first issue it’s in his armored mecha lite suit. Still cool though.)

He then meets this lovely anime inspired couple that you see on the cover. Looks a little like “Ghost in the Shell“.

The Big Blue guy was an ex slave. This world, or this Planetoid, was once ruled by the Earth empire  before being taken over by the Ono Mao. (A jibe against Chinese Marxism and Yoko Ono or does it just sound villainous..? Probably just sounds sinister…) Her origin story sounds horrible but as usual its well grounded in gritty science fictional logic. It makes sense. The robotic villains make sense. But there are still lots of questions to be answered: can they escape the planet? What does this planet have to do with the war or does it? Why is that gun so powerful and does it affect the previous question?

I look forward to reading the next issue. 3.95 out of five stars. It’s not quite as psychedelic as the new Prophet or Orc Stain but still pretty impressive.