Review: MARS ATTACKS #1

MARS ATTACKS #1
Written by John Layman
Art by John McCrea
Release Date: June 20, 2012

Mars Attacks returns once again, in another attempt to take over the comic world. This time it is backed up by a whopping fifty-five different covers, each one from the original trading card set. IDW has teamed up with Topps to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mars Attacks, and this comic book is based around the early source material, and not the Tim Burton movie.

John Layman brings a similar sense to this book as he does to Chew. The writing style is very reminiscent of a comic book from the 60’s, with a healthy dose of humor. The book hints at a desire to tell multiple stories throughout the run of the series, and with an almost unlimited palette of characters, it should only add to the storyline. It is very important with a series like this to not take itself too seriously, and this definitely follows that line.

The art in this book is amazing. From the Martians gleeful expressions when they kill a human, to the flaming destruction they bring with them; John McCrea is at the top of his game in a series that works perfectly for his style. The inking is varied, and really helps progress the story. Like the writing, the art has a definite throwback element in it that really evokes the history of Mars Attacks.

I originally wasn’t very excited about this comic because my biggest memory of Mars Attacks is the movie, which I am not a fan of. I like the fact that this is a reboot of sorts, owing no allegiance to anything other than a 50 year old concept. It is a very easy read and is a lot of fun. Mars Attacks is another great example of a top-notch popcorn comic book.

Verdict: 8.0/10

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