THE WORLD OF TOMORROW #1, from Uncharted Wilderness Studios on 6/7/23, begins a sorrowful tale about an aging television actor whose luck just ran out… or did it?
The Details
- Written by: Giles Clarke
- Art by: Kenan Halilović
- Colors by: Felipe Obando
- Letters by: AndWorld Design
- Cover art by: Kenan Halilović
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: June 7, 2023
Is It Good?
THE WORLD OF TOMORROW #1 is an intriguing story about Craig Barstow – an aging, alcoholic, gambling television actor whose show is about to be canceled, and his credit just ran out. Giles Clarke bills this story as the start of a sci-fi/comedy, but there’s very little of either in this first issue However, the grounded setup paints a cinematic picture of a man hitting rock bottom.
Clarke’s script centers on Craig Barstow as the lead actor in a B&W television sci-fi program called The World Of Tomorrow. Kids love the show, and Barstow enjoyed years of Hollywood perks due to the show’s success, but ratings are down, the show is due to be replaced with a Western, and all of Bartsow’s bad choices hit him at once.
And that’s it. It’s not bad. Clarke’s script reads like the perfect setup for a big movie adventure, but any hint of sci-fi is wholly absent, and the comedy is restricted to the infrequent joke, so you may need to wait until issue #2 to find out what the story is all about.
What’s great about this comic? Clarke’s character-building in this first issue is classically flawless. You get to know everything you need to about Craig Barstow, especially his decent heart under his hard-drinking, irresponsible facade. Further, Kenan Halilović elevates the grounded-yet-cinematic feel with pristine art.
What’s not so great about this comic? In short, you’ll have no idea what this story is about. You meet Craig Barstow and learn everything about his life at its lowest point, but there’s no hook or intriguing twist to get your curiosity piqued. If you didn’t know there was something special coming, you’d have no reason to keep reading.
How’s the art? Again, Kenan Halilović’s pencils/inks are immaculate. Halilović’s character designs are memorable, the figure work is grounded and relatable, and Felipe Obando’s colors are impressively precise.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a B&W into the penultimate episode of The World Of Tomorrow as Captain Armstrong and the crew of the Acropolis fend off Maldivian Space Pirates. When filming wraps, Craig Barstow, aka Captain Armstrong, notices odd behavior from some cast and crew, leading to the revelation that the show is about to be canceled.
Barstow is the last to realize that his drinking, gambling, and sagging ratings have put him at risk of being out of work when his debts from the local gangster come due. After an altercation with a drunken neighbor and a mixup with his dressing room, Barstow finds himself at the end of his rope. And then things get worse.
We conclude the issue with door knobs, uncomfortable meetings, and catching a ride.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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THE WORLD OF TOMORROW #1 delivers a cinematic-yet-grounded story of an aging television actor who hits rock bottom. Clarke’s character development is as immaculate as Halilović’s art, but the first issue strangely lacks a hook to keep reading.
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