It’s finally time, folks. Panel Syndicate – aka the team of Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin – have launched their second comic and the first one not from them in the form of Albert Monteys’ “Universe!” Following up on the massive success of their book “The Private Eye” and its innovative pay what you want model, I had wondered what they’d go with, a known commodity or someone new. With Monteys, they split the difference as the Spanish cartoonist is well known in Spain thanks to his work as the director of the satirical weekly magazine El Jueves, but he wasn’t someone who was very famous in the States.
That may change pretty quick though, as “Universe!” is – simply put – spectacular. Monteys’ is a wonderful cartoonist who feels like a lovechild of Charles Burns and Peter Bagge, and the story he tells in this issue is very, very funny and wonderfully original. Here’s the quick spiel: Tommy gets sent back in time to trigger the Big Bang and, in the process, to brand all of the matter of the universe in the name of the undead owner of his company. Hijinks ensue. This is an absolute must read, really and truly, and like with “The Private Eye”, it’s DRM-free, widescreen and pay what you want. Pay this man for this fantastic comic, folks.
According to Monteys in the back, the comic will be a series of one-shots that are self-contained sci-fi stories that relate to each other in some ways. Monteys says that this comic will probably arrive every other month, and after that experience, I really, truly can’t wait for more. Bravo, Albert, and we’re excited to read more.
