When it comes to sci-fi, specifically alien-based sci-fi, of the main things readers want to see pushed to the limits is world-building. This week comic fans will be excited to see, Image Comics’ Voyagis #1 embrace the fantastical and the otherworldly. Created by Sumeyye Kesgin, Voyagis kicks off its story with two aliens — Zakk and Sen — searching for organic resources, facing off against a deadly robotic force, and coming across a mysterious human satellite.
The first issue of Voyagis does some heavy lifting establishing the context of this universe without feeling too expositional. There is a post-apocalyptic feel to this universe, and readers are thrown straight into it. The damage these robots have caused to the universe becomes clear as the story progresses. Kesgin establishes an intriguing tension between technology and the natural world in this engaging and poignant issue.
The conflict between the organic and the inorganic is a compelling one, and readers will be excited to see how that unfolds as Voyagis continues. While putting the environment and nature at risk is far from a new idea in the world of sci-fi, the commentary still feels remarkably relevant today. Voyagis #1 takes a nuanced approach to the conversation, and the series has the potential to bring something unique to this ongoing discourse.
Kesgin’s art complements the comic’s theme perfectly. This is a world where tech has put the protagonists and their people at risk, but the landscapes allude to how nature may be attempting to fight back. Meanwhile, some robotic designs feel as if they’ve incorporated organic life into their functions. Voyagis seems to argue that technology often depends on nature. Kesgin’s art gives the world depth and history to inform the reader and allow the story to move forward at a quick, entertaining pace. Her character designs are just as effective. Sen’s eyes have so much emotion to them, and she’s a beautiful blend of wasteland warrior and empathetic alien. Sen feels as if she is meant to be on an aquatic planet, so seeing an alien like this stuck in a desert nightmare emphasizes how bad things have gotten for her.
Kesgin’s colors make her art inviting and eye-catching. The aliens are represented with soft blues and greens, connecting them back to the organic world. While the technological force also relies on these colors, they’re colder than the ones applied to the protagonists. Where the protagonists’ look like they belong alongside the natural world, the antagonists’ color schemes are threatening and inhuman.
Voyagis #1 plays into classic sci-fi a lot. It feels familiar, but it is well-written and thoughtful. Kesgin’s art steals the show. Her work is visually appealing and feels fleshed out. Issue #1 ends with a cliffhanger that will leave readers anxious for the second chapter, and there is a lot of potential for this classic sci-fi tale to explore uncharted territory as the series progresses.
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