Advance Review: No Future
From Magnetic Press
A new science fiction graphic novel from Magnetic Press - a very different world from the one we live in now, in No Future.
Coming this Wednesday from Magnetic Press: NO FUTURE, a deluxe satirical cyberpunk graphic novel by the award-winning screenwriter Corbeyran and fan-favorite illustrator Jef. The acclaimed creative team behind A Bullet in the Head reunites to deliver a neo-noir story that recaptures the pulse and aesthetic of classic sci-fi with vivid, nostalgic artwork.
Imagine flying cars, robot servants, and universal freedom to live without limits—a dreamlike future, right? Not quite. In this world, the line between utopia and dystopia is razor-thin and trampled underfoot. Far-left and far-right politics curve back around, reflecting each other in a warped, endless struggle.
In this future, interstellar mega-corporations set the rules, controlling politics through market manipulation, while the masses are lulled by the comforts of consumerism. Yet, beneath the corporate sheen, pockets of resistance simmer in the gritty depths of the lower streets. Sometimes, all it takes is a single spark to ignite a revolution…
A striking commentary on modern times, No Future is a fusion of The Fifth Element, Blade Runner, Brazil, and Idiocracy!
Stella Corp is the leading provider of space tourism, a trillion-dollar enterprise that led mankind to settle the stars. Corruption along the way can be assumed, but no one could possibly know the depths of it, not as rigidly as they police their own secrets. When a lone thief manages to steal secret documents, however, they call in mercenary bounty hunter HALEN BRENNAN to track him down, retrieve the stolen material, and eliminate the culprit. Her cold, callous demeanor is put to the test, however, when she finds the target: JEAN-CLAUDE BELMONDEAU, a down-on-his-luck thief with seemingly noble intentions...
(W) Eric Corberyan (A/CA) Jef
Diving into this, I was a little concerned that I should have made a better time to read it. It’s one thing to read a single issue in an evening, but I wondered if it was too late at night to read a full-on graphic novel…
Even so, science fiction is my favourite genre, and reading the description piqued my interest. The story description and the artwork gave me some Halo Jones vibes.
I’m glad I did. I ploughed my way through the read, and it was never a chore. I found this to be a fantastic, gripping story that combined action, satire, and science fiction in various ways.
Set in a very different future, the minorities are now the majority - by law - and those who are not a minority are shipped away and not wanted. This is where we find ourselves, with futuristic weapons and flying cars, but some things are still the same.
Corruption.
This is where Halen finds herself, and what seems like a simple tracking job builds up excellently. We meet many new characters in different ways.
The pace is perfect, with explanations told on the run (or crawling through air ducts) and some excellent humour and satire that pokes fun and also has a nice tinge of nostalgia.
I love the artwork's style, which includes some excellent colouring choices, whether from panel to panel in the city, underground, or in space. There are some fantastic designs of vehicles, characters and robots, with some fun aspects in the technology and how people act and react in this story.
This was some brilliant sci-fi and worth picking up!
This neo-noir blockbuster graphic novel recaptures the energy and aesthetic of classic sci-fi masters such as Moebius, Bilal, Juan Gimenez, and Ladronn with a modern flair.
No Future, a highspeed cyberpunk vision of tomorrow, drops in shops Nov. 13.
