A Space Western On A Giant Orbiting Toilet: Cemetery Beach #2

Mike Blackburn and Grace Moody are trying to get out of the middle of a secret colony on an unknown exoplanet while trying not to make any noise. It’s not working out like that. And the Outerfamilies of Second Stage are waiting for them. Utopia is kind of murdery.

Cemetery Beach #2 opens up in the middle of the high speed chase that wrapped up the last chapter. President Barrow has been apprised of the situation and has come to the conclusion that Mike either needs to take the right story back to “oldworld” or he needs to die. Either outcome works, really. The action barely lets up, and when it finally does, the relative peace lasts for all of five pages.

During and after the big chase, we learn a heap more about the social structure and history of the colony. Warren Ellis used a backward interrogation to provide the exposition in the last chapter. In this installment, the narration comes from Grace, as she’s desperately trying to bring Mike up to speed before he gets them both killed and dismembered. Both approaches feel more organic than giant half-page blocks of text.
Jason Howard carries the gritty, industrial, steampunky vibe over from the opening chapter. The action shifts gears from a high speed vehicle pursuit to a foot chase, but there are still plenty of bullets flying and explosions.

Cemetery Beach is shaping up to be a fantastic espionage thriller/space Western. There are a lot of familiar themes at play, but the developments feel fresh. It’s a little bit 007, mashed up with Outland, by way of The Island.

Cemetery Beach #2, Image Comics, released 17 October 2018. Written by Warren Ellis, art by Jason Howard, letters by Fonografiks.