Broken Frontier

Roswell 1947, the ship landed, but we were the aggressors. Dr. Geotz was given a gift and went into a coma. Princeton 1953, one of Einstein’s prodigies builds a machine to talk to parallel dimensions. At the same time, a space crew across the galaxy receives a strange transmission emanating from a black hole.

Dwight MacPherson is no stranger to writing fun comics. He has shown that he is capable of bringing the entertainment with books like Archibald Save…, Kid Houdini & Edgar Allen Poo. Save Archibald, these are kid oriented books that delight for all audiences, the definition of what All Ages should be.

He brings that same delightful tone and playful scripting to M-Theory, which is co-written by Bruce Brown. Together, the duo has created a fun science fiction book. It is like a Wally Wood story but maybe a little more fun. Between historical figures in extraordinary settings and a sweeping story that reveals that there are many more things to reveal and tell in future iterations, we are provided the kind of comic that will make comments like "You’ve found the next Atomic Robo in M-Theory" fall from the mouths of reviewers and readers. However, this may be a step further.

Atomic-Robo’s debut mini-series served as a sampler of the kinds of stories that Clevinger and company wanted to tell. It was great fun and worked in an all or nothing kind of way. Unfortunately, as a narrative the book did not work as a coherent piece, it just kind of jumped around. Folks who read the initial trade paperback printing may have been even more dumbfounded by the fact that it didn’t divide the stories in any way, it just kept trudging along. That has been corrected in the new mini-series which is a story.

M-Theory works with all those same fun adventure and science fiction concepts, but dares to tell a cohesive story as revealed in the last page cliffhanger that will make me spit vile hate if it is not followed up on. Macpherson knows that he and his partner have a winner here and hint at history that can be explored later while telling a story. In terms of craft, this is the superior piece daring and fun at the same time. No need to blow its wad now as the concept and the story should bring in readers and allow for future stories to be told.

Even more so, there is more than one character in this story. Goetz is a mystery that will be fun to explore. Ms. Fonts is a smart and feminine character all at the same time. The Space Captain is a cookie cutter Star Command type guy, but at least he is dealt with. The writers introduce each character with care and attention to detail creating a cast as fun as the setting and ideas flying around them.

Mike Barentine illustrates the book with the same kind of whimsy that fills the story. It is an attractive book that like its script should appeal to both kids and adults. It also manages to tell a story well and even though it has a very deformed cartoon look, you know who Einstein is the second he enters a panel. The art also never feels static, each panel looks as if it is a picture of things happening, not a drawing of some pose.

M-Theory #1 is a great expository issue, hitting all cylinders with a fun engaging story, unique and solid artwork, all while hinting at a richer world to expound on at a later date. All of this and it is something that this reader is unafraid to hand his daughter makes it a break out book that should be checked out by everyone, young and old!