Review - August: Purgatory Underground

A new sci-fi series begins from Red 5 Comics

From Red 5 Comics comes a new science fiction mini-series. The first issue is available now in print and digitally. Check out my thoughts on August: Purgatory Underground #1

As a long civil war ends, the once celebrated hero Captain August finds himself in the center of an intergalactic controversy. Running out of time and options, he accepts a dangerous mission to a decaying planet- and finds that the war isn't nearly over! An action-packed sci-fi thriller that remixes the nostalgia of 80's cartoons in a contemporary style!

Script & art: Benjamin W. Morse

A very interesting idea here in this new series. To begin a space epic storyline at the end of a war. I like the idea of the concept - what happens next? Has everyone surrendered? Is the war truly over?

I am a big Star Wars fan and have read voraciously the now-legends, non-canon stories around the (then 6) main films. A lot of these books, look at what happens when the foe has been defeated - what happens with mopping up?

August: Purgatory Underground #1 expands on that. We’ve got the character who more or less won the war. The cost of this victory is high, and now, in peacetime, there are those who feel that it didn’t have to end that way. It’s a controversial decision, and August is in a rough place at the beginning of this issue. The war is all he really knows, and now he has to find a new place.

This is given to him, the military wants him out of the way - he’s a polarising figure and a backwater planet with some mopping up of some rebels is just the place. Problem is, that things don’t work out that way.

What follows is a well-laid-out adventure, combining some good action - with some dark follow-up humour - a good look at the state of the planet, and a mission statement going forward.

This is a well-done issue, squeezing a lot of aspects into the story, with some good art and clever framing techniques. Especially at the beginning.

I really enjoyed the style of the art - it has a real retro feel, with some more modern aspects. This looks to be a clever read, combining some classic tropes, action and some more modern sensibilities.