Science fiction comics have existed for a long time. In fact, according to the Wikipedia page, they’ve been around since the early 1930’s, making them older than Batman, Superman, and really any other superhero. It’s a genre that has endured and thrived for more 70 years. Despite its age, however, science fiction is better than ever right now, with smaller publishers like Oni, Boom!, Valiant, and Image bringing science fiction back into the forefront with some of the best creators in the business. So if you want something different from the standard superhero fare, and are looking to try some science fiction comics, I encourage you to check out any of these seven books. All of them are top notch books, and none will disappoint.
Saga
Imagine Rome & Juliet, but kind of as a space opera, and much more entertaining. That’s what I imagine the elevator pitch was for Saga. For most comic book fans, Saga is probably something you’ve already heard of, and a book that you’re either reading monthly, or trade waiting. If not, well… shame on you. 21 issues in, those of you who aren’t reading it have probably been surrounded by the hype surrounding the release of every issue of the book. I know that it’s easy to be skeptical of hype, but with Saga, there’s a reason that hype exists. On the most basic level, this book is a source of great entertainment. It has whacky science fiction elements, like neon space sharks and a cat that knows when people are lying. But Saga succeeds because of how layered it is. The characters are what hooked me, but for others, it just as easily be the world, the plot, or Fiona Staples’ gorgeous art. Whatever it is that gets you, once Saga sinks its teeth in, it never lets go.
The Woods
Imagine that, in the middle of an otherwise normal day, a Midwestern high school was uprooted from the safety of its suburban setting and transported… somewhere. This is the concept that The Woods is based around. Where that school went, who knows? Despite being only four issues in, there’s something about The Woods that’s really attracted me to it. It may not be as deep as other science fiction comics, but it survives on the dynamics between the characters. In some ways, it’s a more intelligent version of young adult novels, but comparing The Woods to one of those books severely discredits the writing of James Tynion IV. After being shackled to the Bat-verse since the start of The New 52, it’s nice to see him spread his wings a little. And really, The Woods is his best work. The characters that he’s created to inhabit this world, and the way in which their dynamics work with other characters, has me absolutely hooked on this series.
Black Science
If you really like inter-dimensional travel, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be reading Black Science. The entire book is hinged around a group of individuals being thrown through time and space at the whims of their sabotaged inter-dimensional portal. So if you’re into seeing tons of different dimensions, each one completely different than the last, this is a book for you. Rick Remender goes completely off the rails with this book, doing completely crazy things. This is him allowing his very, very, very imaginative mind to run wild. But look, here’s the thing: if you don’t like inter-dimensional travel, you should still be reading this series. Sure, it’s awesome conceptually, and the execution of the crazy science fiction is awesome as well. That said, it’s the characters that really make this book what it is. The book is full of heart, and each of the characters, and their relations with one another, are all engaging. It’s hard not to fall in love with the varied cast of businessmen, scientists, mechanics, and children.
X-O Manowar
X-O Manowar has pretty cool characters. And the plot lines are also pretty interesting as well. But let’s be honest: X-O Manowar is great because of the massive action set pieces in every single issue. It’s still smart sci-fi, but it plays out like a big summer blockbuster that has a little bit more brains and heart behind it. Every issue features balls to the wall action sequences, from massive space battles to smaller, one on one duels. Regardless, it’s always high intensity, high stakes action, and X-O is always a ton of fun to read. What more is there to say? It’s excellently written, like all the other Valiant books are. But to be honest, if you’re just looking for a really, really fun science fiction book, this is for you. You can read it somewhat mindlessly, but there is depth to be found here for those looking for more. It’s really the best of both worlds.
The Bunker
The Bunker is the pinnacle of Joshua Hale Fialkov’s work. And that’s saying something, because this is the guy who wrote I, Vampire; one of my favorite books of the New 52’s launch. The Bunker is a pretty unique time travel story, in which a group of best friends stumble upon a bunker in the woods, filled with letters and items from their future selves. Each of them has a set of instructions to follow in order to ensure that they don’t cause the apocalypse at some point in the future. But this really just serves as a backdrop for Fialkov to conduct a great character study of this series’ cast. There’s something really special about what Fialkov does with these characters, and their relationships really shine through. The cast that Fialkov has created for this book is great, and one that I simply cannot get enough of. Plus, due to the plot, there’s a ton of suspense that keeps me hooked on the book.
Letter 44
Political science fiction, my absolute favorite. And there was no sarcasm in that sentence fragment at all. With Letter 44, Charles Soule attacks his story in a two pronged manner. First, there’s the political side of the plot back on Earth. And second, there’s the stuff that goes on in space, with the crew of a ship exploring the weird alien weapon in the asteroid belt. Oh yeah, aliens. So the concept of Letter 44 is that a new president comes into office, and the letter left behind by his predecessor reveals that the reason that he was pouring so much money into the defense budget was because they had discovered aliens. Letter 44 succeeds not necessarily because it’s surreal, but because it’s actually a fairly realistic portrayal of what one could expect from a president in such a situation. And, to be honest, I really like that about it. Like many of the other books on this list, it is very much driven by the characters. And, like many other books on this list, the fact that it’s character driven allows it to hit all the emotional beats perfectly.
The Life After
Another Fialkov book! I told you that this man was at the height of his genius. Only one issue in, and The Life After already has its hooks in me. The Life After is a really trippy book, for a lot of reasons. Essentially, it’s the story of a character who dies (presumably through a suicide) and goes to heaven, but it’s not exactly heaven. It’s a place that seems to be monitored by high tech guards. But before he gets to the life after (haha, I’m funny), we get some great characterization. He’s a character who definitely has his share of his issues, but they’re issues that many people deal with. It’s really easy to latch onto him as a relatable protagonist, and that’s definitely something that’s very important in comics. I could go on for a while about how great The Life After is, but I’ll leave it at that and hope that you go read it.
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