Space Bandits is published by Image Comics. It is written and created by Mark Millar with art by Matteo Scalera and colors by Marcelo Maiolo. Space Bandits is also already set to have a Netflix series, seeing as in 2017, Netflix acquired Mark Millar’s comic book company, Millarworld. This is not the first series of Millar’s we will see get adapted, but it’s going to happen.
Space Bandits is basically written to be a TV series. I can picture everything about it transitioning easily onto the screen. It’s kind of like cyberpunk and space western mixed together, like Blade Runner meets Firefly or Cowboy Bebop meets Akira. I can see elements from both, and it’s definitely way in the future but also somehow still in the 80s. Because, as everyone knows, the 80s is the future.
So let’s talk plot, Thena Khole and Cody Blue are among the universe’s most wanted felons. Cody leads her own band of hired outlaws to commit heists, but she’s also known for being soft because she always does it in a way to ensure no one gets terribly injured or killed. Pretty unusual for a gang leader, but it only adds to the list of reasons she’s awesome. Thena and her boyfriend, Yiggo Lust, use her high bounty as a tool to make even more: by pretending he’s a bounty hunter turning her in and collecting the money, then she breaks out and he becomes the getaway driver. It’s a pretty fast way to make a lot of money, and it’s easy too, if you’re Yiggo. Everything is going according to plan for Cody and Thena, until they are both betrayed. Now these two women are out for revenge, and it isn’t going to be pretty. I bet it’s going to kick some ass, though.
Matteo Scalera’s art and Marcelo Maiolo’s colors are absolutely gorgeous. As I said, it’s got this blended cyberpunk/space western feel, so depending on where they are, the environment might be super vibrant and colorful, or it has more neutral colors with browns and off whites and looks like it’s covered in a layer of dust. Mark Millar is good at original characters. I already love Cody and Thena. I’m a sucker for a bad guy who isn’t really a “bad” guy. Thieves with a code. I don’t know, there’s just something about that kind of character that makes me happy.
What I’m mostly concerned about is that it’s only set to run for 5 issues. Now, I understand that 4 to 5 issues is the standard 1 volume trade amount, but sometimes things get rushed when they only have a few issues to play out. I trust Millar though, he’s written plenty of highly rated comic series, the man knows what he’s doing. However, I’ve also seen my fair share of comic series that if they just had a couple more issues, could have been great instead of good. 5 issues really isn’t a lot when it comes to fleshing out an entire universe with brand new characters. At the same time, nothing is stopping Millar from continuing, so this conjecture could be totally pointless and a second series is in the works. Or it will all tie together nicely in the 5 issues it’s slated for and either way my concerns are basically pointless.
OVERALL SCORE: 9 / 10
Make sure to pick up Space Bandits #1 from your local comic shop!
Happy reading!
