Indie Comics Review: Jules Verne’s Lighthouse #1

by Kendra Hale
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Review: Jules Verne’s Lighthouse #1

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Publisher: Image Comics

Writer: David Hine and Brian Haberlin

Artist: Brian Haberlin 

Color Artist: Geirrod Van Dyke 

Letters: Francis Takenaga

 

Review by: Kendra Hale

 

Summary

I was completely unsure of what I was getting myself into with Jules Verne’s Lighthouse, and sometimes that is for the best with new comics. It can be really fun discovering something new and unexpected.  This series is based on Verne’s book The Lighthouse at the End of the World.   But where Verne’s novel is based on a lighthouse in Argentina, this comic takes place at the edge of space. However, as we see in the opening of this 52-page premiere issue, the main premise and character names stay the same.

Welcome to the Stormfront, where “thousands of wormholes tear apart the fabric of space” and allows for faster routes for the travelers. We are introduced to Maria Vasquez who explains that the station she calls home is The Conglomerate’s furthest outpost named The Lighthouse on an asteroid called The Reef. Her and her station mate’s goal is to guide ships from being torn apart by space. 

Part Of The Ship, Part Of The Crew

In Jules Verne’s Lighthouse #1 we meet many characters.  We meet the crew that is housed in the station, including Captain Moriz, the leader of the group. Maria Vasquez and Felipe are operators and crew, Moses is a nanny bot, and finally we meet Eek, the Mondorfin chef.  This crew makes up the whole of the Lighthouse, which is a supercomputer that can technically process what the operators do whether they do it or not. 

While out on a hunt for a space pig who has been spotted, Felipe and Maria discover a long dead Modorfin body. From there chaos erupts as an unscheduled ship arrival happens. Bribed by alcohol, Moriz allows the ship to dock to help with their repairs and wounded.  He soon learns his mistake as these are not stranded and hurt travelers, but are instead pirates with an agenda. Soon enough Maria, who has made it to a different and safe part of the station after Moses helped her, learns that they have an inside line to who helped them hack the station. 

Positives

David Hine and Brian Haberlin have given us a unique take on the original story. There are several differences, obviously, and there are a lot of subplots that reveal themselves along the way. We have the past of Maria who has a tale involving The Seraphim Wars and the battle of Kolaire. The fact that Vasquez has a husband and daughter, revealed in a moment where Moses mentions that it “was a pity you abandoned her.” The glitches that Moses has that continue to get worse, even with Maria doing the best she can to repair him.  There are many secrets that are given and it will be interesting, especially in the case of Felipe and what her story is. 

The writing is fluid, and the art is a shining star indeed. Brian Haberlin and Geirrod Van Dyke gives us some really breathtaking moments, but a personal favorite is when we meet the leader of the pirates, Captain Kongre. The guy comes in riding a war unicorn. It is my favorite moment of the book honestly. His second in command, Carcante, literally introduces him saying “You can’t miss him. He’s the one riding the unicorn.” Just brilliant. 

 

Negatives

None in this issue. 

 

Verdict

With the ending that Jules Verne’s Lighthouse #1 has, it definitely has me on edge for what could be next. Honestly, it will interesting to see what the next part of the story is because this one is fast-paced and action-filled. So far I have loved this science fiction odyssey and how it keeps the reader on their feet. I look forward to finding out the answers to the mysteries presented and the new avenues this book brings to the source story. 

 

 

 

Images May Be Subject To Copyright. 

 

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