Review: ‘Sidereal Apogee’ #4 Has Some Obvious Inspirations
by Benjamin Hall
Summary
This issue features a variety of stories that expand the universe of Sidereal Apogee. All the stories feature some amount of sci-fi tropes. It also features a lot of characters from the sleazy wealthy to just those trying to survive. Yet, are they all truly criminals, or are some survivors?
Overall
6/10Writer Phoebe A. Xavier creates mostly solid scripts for the first two stories. While the fourth story only features text it provides some nice additional details relating to the first two stories. Unfortunately, the third story has a script that feels too much like an overly long non-sequitur. Of the four stories the best is the first one due to how it would not require the text to tell the same story. Although, the second story could use a little less reliance on the narration it arguably has a stronger plot. As far as the lettering goes the sizing is inconsistent in the first three stories. However, it is all still legible which is a good portion of the task.
The cover is by artist Mu Mu SF. This cover features some good and bad color choices. Also the depth seems a little off nearer to the foreground. A plus comes in the form of the line work having a good deal of skill and confidence. Another plus is that stylistically this cover definitely screams different. Parts of the design also say sci-fi, if not cyberpunk.
Artist Dan Sant provides a lot of texture with a substantial amount of crosshatchings in the first story. The second story features visuals by artist Francine Apelo. This artist’s style kind of has an obvious manga influence to the designs, but with the sequencing of a non-manga comic book. Sant and Apelo also do great expressing the characters’ emotions in their respective stories. The last story’s art is by Cheunchin Bunnag. Except for one scene of violence and some interesting creatures there isn’t much that makes Bunnag’s art standout. While all three artists have flaws they are at least good at executing their personal strengths.
Colorist Kindgom Cuilla provides some coloring for three out of the four stories. However, the coloring is so minimal and infrequent that there is really nothing to critique.
According to Phoebe A. Xavier Sidereal Apogee #4 will be available once she gets the company website http://123gopublications.com/ up and running.
