THE LAST ARRIVAL #1, from Tripolar Comics on Kickstarter, begins a fateful journey by a handful of explorers to find a new world suitable for resettling their dying home. Unfortunately, their destination isn’t as uninhabited as they thought.
The Details
- Written by: Daniel A. Prim
- Art by: Gergely J. Szabo
- Colors by: Szabrina Maharita
- Letters by: Toben Racicot, Szabrina Maharita
- Cover art by: Gergely J. Szabo,
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $12.50 (4-issue bundle)
- Release date: Available now
Is It Good?
THE LAST ARRIVAL #1 is not bad, not bad at all. Daniel A. Prim’s story about a hastily assembled team sent to the stars in a last-ditch effort to find a new home for their people is a thoughtful sci-fi drama filled with mystery, intensely personal moments, and creative art. This first issue in the series isn’t perfect, but it’s a darn good start.
Daniel A. Prim’s script centers on a team of travelers, each selected for their unique talents, to lead an exploratory mission that will establish a new colony for their homeworld. Some team members are selected for obvious reasons (engineering), and others have talents whose use isn’t so obvious (hope). When they reach their destination – a supposed dead world – they find ruins with signs the world isn’t as dead as they originally thought.
Prim successfully nails the atmosphere of uncertainty that comes with venturing into the unknown, layering on a hint of paranoia that the exploration team isn’t being told the whole truth about their mission. The interactions between the explorers feel authentic and relatable, and the issue ends on a strong cliffhanger.
What doesn’t work? Prim’s script conveys steady but low energy. Almost every conversation reads like it’s carried out using hushed tones, and several scenes lack an obvious conflict. To be clear, a conflict need not be a fight or disagreement. A conflict could be as simple as “character A needs to address a concern, solve a problem, or achieve a goal.” Here, you have several scenes where two characters talk just to get to know each other, and it comes off exactly as it sounds – as idle small talk. Small talk is an easy way to accomplish character-building for the reader, but it’s not very interesting storytelling.
The art by Gergely J. Szabo is good but not great. The character designs are creative, and the otherwordly aspects of the ship and planet look great, but Szabo’s linework is loose and undisciplined. You can always tell who’s who and what’s going on, but in multiple spots, the characters and setting look disheveled and rumpled, which doesn’t fit the aesthetic of an advanced spaceship.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
The story begins with a focus on Olak, a young man selected to be part of an advanced exploration team tasked with settling a dead planet for his people. Olak was selected for his historical knowledge and aptitude for recording events accurately. Soon, he’s introduced to Captain U’on, Rirke the artist and former priestess, Acrok the engineer, and Aoke the purveyor of hope.
After an uneventful launch and an extended cryosleep, the team wakes up in orbit over the target world. Captain U’on is oddly dismissive of concerns about the younger team members needing help to navigate the stress of their mission. The world is supposed to be completely uninhabited, but fresh scans indicate some aquatic life has sprung up in recent years.
Captain U’on leads a few of the team members to the surface where they find signs of a ruined civilization. We conclude the issue with personnel and personal conflicts, not-so-ruined ruins, and a hot cup of coffee.
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Final Thoughts
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THE LAST ARRIVAL #1 is an intriguing start to an indie project about a group of explorers who find more than they bargained for while looking for a new world to settle in. The character development is genuine, the designs are creative, and the mystery is solid. However, the pencils/inks are too loose, and several scenes lack conflict energy.
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