Black Science #8 takes up where #7 ended, with Pia and Nate separated from the group and given up for dead. This does not help with the already-shaky group dynamics. Meanwhile, they continue to learn about the Pillar and others like it.
Remender, Scalera, and White have created a colorful multiverse full of an array of creatures and cultures. Here, there are large anteater-bear creatures, odd fungi, and a humanoid race that no one can understand. What makes the tale more interesting is the way Remender is slowly revealing the story of the Pillars. There is our Earth’s Pillar and all of the conflicting desires and arguments about it, but as they travel, the group is learning about other Pillars with more possibilities—most of them bad—coming to light. The shifting point of view means that anyone can tell the story, so anyone can die; it is entirely possible that the original team will be fully replaced over the course of the travels. The drawback to the point of view changes is that everyone has the same rhythm and pattern to their speech: It is only possible to know who is talking when the panel reveals it.
Scalera and White continue to create beautiful art with surreal landscapes and unusual creatures and machines of all kinds. Scalera is drawing a strange new world every week, and White’s vivid coloring and patterning bring the places to life. It is one book I want to call people over to look at when I read.
Black Science continues to use the best qualities of pulp fiction, it’s vigor and willingness to explore, which is great fun, though the series itself covers serious territory. This second volume of Black Science is very much a continuation of the first, and new readers will find the absence of an opening summary or character introduction a difficulty. However, it is well worth the trouble it takes to come on board, so don’t let that stop you.
Black Science #8 is available August 27th from Image Comics.
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Matteo Scalera
Color Art: Dean White
Letters: Rus Wooton
