Launched at Thought Bubble 2013, “Exit Generation” is two issues in and well on its way to setting up a remarkable sci-fi universe. Centring on an Earth where 95% of the population was evacuated – only to die on their malfunctioning space arks – we find that the survivors on Earth are having a pretty easy time of things. That is, until hungry new visitors arrive.
Written by Sam Read
Illustrated by Caio OliveiraAllies get found.
Plans get revealed.
Things get real.
Having to deal with aliens in your hometown is never going to be easy; but when they kidnap your family, forming a plan of action is really the name of the game. Friends and brothers-by-adoption Jack and Mo are set on getting their people back, and doing so will entail making some scrappy new allies.
The issue bounds along quickly, with Jack and Mo happening upon said new allies on their first try. This leaves room for a little exposition when we check in on our hungry aliens in space, and again, things are established quickly; we’re made to understand the vital difference between humanity and these guys within the space of a page
The compression of so much story information is probably this issue’s greatest strength. It seems some effort has been made to keep the issue cohesive, with every element of the storytelling conspiring to make things as effortless as possible. This kind of well-rounded execution is much easier described than accomplished, and it’s especially gratifying to see the concept pulled off in a independent comic.
Sam Read’s dialogue is sharp and uncluttered; and if the exposition feels a bit on-the-nose, a touch of humour every now and then offsets things nicely. Oliveira’s art, meanwhile, is clean and precise, working in plenty of explanatory detail where it’s needed and scaling things back during dialogue-heavy moments. On the colouring front, Marissa Louise makes the most of all the neat contours, using a wide range of pastels to make the setting and costumes pop.
So far as the forward movement of the story goes, this issue really is all about the new characters. And since they’re people of few (or rather brusque) words, Oliveira’s art does much of the heavy lifting here. They’re a familiar, if not quite archetypical, pair, and Oliveira does a solid job picking up where the dialogue leaves off and finding nuances in amongst the bravado and eccentricity.
Meanwhile, up in space, a non-humanoid character with something important to contribute comes through with a lot of personality. And while what makes this character different from his brethren is a bit of a groan-worthy detail – it might put too fine a point on the moral ideas the series appears to be exploring – he’s still a fun guy, his huge size neatly contrasted against some gentle mannerisms.
All through, Oliveira’s layouts are straightforward, guiding us through the story without detour or complication. The one, welcome exception is a page where the crosshairs of a sight are used to house a circular arrangement of panels; it’s a neat trick, and it looks a lot more elegant than my description of it, breaking up the rhythm of the issue nicely.
By the end of the issue, we’re facing an entirely new set of circumstances; and while it’s clear matters are coming to a head, this rescue attempt looks chancy at best. This is shaping up to be a remarkable romp, thoughtful without being preachy, fun without being overly light-hearted. That’s a balance rarely struck in high-concept science fiction, and this sense of equilibrium makes “Exit Generation” well worth a look.
You can get this one straight from the source.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
