We’ve had a lot to say about this miniseries so far, not least because – for a miniseries especially – “Lost Vegas” feels like a lot of comic. This ambitious but unevenly executed conclusion takes us home on the same tack, delivering a lot of information but hooking us in more with the visuals and the general concepts than the plot itself.
Written by Jim McCann
Illustrated by Janet LeeOne hand can make or break you. That has never been more true than now, and not just for Roland, but for the entire galaxy. After the sacrifice he made, the house of cards that is LOST VEGAS and all it stands for, begins to crumble. As the saying goes, you have to know when to run. The EISNER AWARD-WINNING team of JIM McCANN & JANET LEE wrap up their acclaimed series filled with intrigue and a compelling, unique universe.
What started as a (sort of) straightforward escape plan has now morphed into an interplanetary political crisis, with our main guy Roland backed into a corner but ready to kick some alien ass alongside his fellow Lost Vegas detainees. It’s been a hard road for all of them so far, and there are plenty of twists in store as they make their last big stand against Scotsorn, the tycoon and tyrant who oversees Lost Vegas.
This issue is, in effect, one giant, explosive set piece, and with the amount of shapeshifting and telepathy going on as Roland and Co. execute their plans, things do get a bit murky at times. There are just so many plot points to deliver, and while McCann and Lee typically excel at carefully delivered exposition, explosive concluding issues are probably the most difficult circumstances to work with when it comes to explaining all the details. That means there isn’t much time to explore the most thematically loaded element of the whole miniseries – the sentient superweapon – and while the issue’s end does seem to set us up for an ongoing series, the sense of ethical/moral heft that makes for truly epic science fiction is missing. Considering his importance to the political snafu at hand, it feels like a little more time spent with this character would have gone a long way.
Janet Lee’s art has been nothing short of opulent so far, and while, as I mentioned, this issue presents its fair share of challenges in terms of visual storytelling, Lee manages the majority of them with her usual flair. You can always depend on the beauty of her work as a whole: from the decadent, overgrown morass that is Lost Vegas as seen from space, to the close-up architecture of the casino itself, the elegance of the lines and the attention to detail make for a luxurious and menacing atmosphere.
While some of the character portrayals feel a bit inconsistent in this issue, Lee knocks the really important ones out of the park. Unsurprisingly, the most interesting visual moments involve Ink, a fun character as well as an awfully effective storytelling device. A means by which to telepathically connect the heroes of this story, he’s most effective when sprawling across the page, a sticky, tentacled cement that binds the panels together. Another character that this comic has gotten right on every count is the one we know as Science Deer. Visually imposing as all get-out, this strong and silent figure gets some particularly great lines in this issue. If I’m looking forward to a potential ongoing series, it’s mostly Science Deer’s fault.
When you get right down to it, this is probably a better introduction issue than it is a conclusion. Overall, it feels like we’re just gearing up. All our characters have assemble, and revealed (some of) their underlying motivations; we’ve got some romantic tension (heck, maybe even a love triangle); and most importantly, we’ve got an elaborate sci-fi universe all set up, with a war waiting on the horizon. Whether or not this issue succeeds pretty much depends on whether or not you’re rooting for an ongoing; but in terms of its ambitions and overall scope, I think “Lost Vegas” has always been long-form comic at heart. Now let’s just hope it gets the chance to realize all that potential.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Browse the trade
