Delta 13 #1, IDW Publishing

(Courtesy of IDW Publishing)

A quietly chilling first installment, Delta 13 #1 (IDW Publishing) is quite entertaining as an atmospheric science fiction thriller with compelling characters. Steve Niles and Nat Jones provide genuine jolts of scares through the relationships of their dramatic personalities.

Who knows what mysteries lie deep in the asteroid belt? When a mysterious, huge, and previously undiscovered asteroid looms over their ship, a small crew of blue-collar workers discovers a terrifying threat unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Now, the crew must escape the asteroid, but even if they do, will they be able to escape each other and anything they bring back with them?

Here are 5 reasons why you should get Delta 13 #1:

5) The Nail!

Steve Niles and Nat Jones previously worked with each other on Giant Monster and Broken Moon. In this critic’s opinion, my all-time favorite of their collaborative works is The Nail. I love seeing what these two brilliant minds are cooking up with Delta 13!

4) The Writing

A genuine love for Alien, writer Steve Niles builds the atmosphere with his diverse cast of characters. These astronauts are blue-collar workers who are trying to reach their quota and stay ahead of their deadlines. My favorite moment is how letterer Tom B. Long plays around with the characters’ dialogue during their game of Scrabble.

3) The Artwork!

Artist Nat Jones has crafted his own look and feel of outer-space. The hi-tech crawler looks like a giant spider on the moon’s surface. Through close-ups, Jones emphasizes Sander’s emotions as she talks to her lover on a computer screen. Notice how softer Sanders is around her lover and how hard-edged she acts around there other male crew members.

2) The Colors!

Outer-space is devoid of any warmth and primary color. Notice how the coldness of out-space reflects the interior of the spaceship. The red tone pops up when the narrative dives into danger.

1) A Terrific Read!

A highly enjoyable first issue, Delta 13 #1 is quite effective with its suspenseful tension. I can’t wait to see what happens in the second issue.

Rating:

via GIPHY

Four out of four emojis

Delta 13 #1 arrives in stores on May 23rd, 2018.

By Jorge Solis