Descender #1 Review

Published by Image Comics

Story by Jeff Lemire

Art by Dustin Nguyen

$2.99

Descender is a science fiction story set in the future where humans, aliens, and robots co-exist on nine different planets, all of which make up the United Galactic Counsel or UGC. Lemire, who is no stranger to science fiction, (and who is coming off of an exclusive contract with DC) uses this first issue to lay the groundwork for what is going to be a spectacular ride across the cosmos.

The story opens on the bustling metropolis of the planet Niyata (the Hub World), and in essence the capitol planet of the UGC. It is in his lavish domicile that we meet Doctor Jin Quon, eminent roboticist, and one of the focal characters in this story. Dr Quon is awoken by a urgent communication transmission from a General Nagoki, demanding his presence and attention immediately. We soon find out that the reason for the General’s distress is the arrival of a giant robot, apparently dormant, surrounding planet Niyata. Eight other similar robots have arrived and engulfed the eight other planets in the UGC as well. The first segment of our story ends with the gigantic robot coming on-line, and attacking!

Our focus then shifts 10 years after the attack to our other main character, Tim-21. Tim-21 comes online in the Dirishu Mining Colony, littered with dead bodies, and begins communicating with the colonies computer in an effort to find his mother and Andy, who I presume is his brother. Tim-21 finds comfort in his companion, Bandit, a blocky-hovering robot dog. Together Tim-21 and Bandit begin searching the mining colony for survivors, especially Tim’s family members. He stumbles on news feeds regarding the arrival of the robotic “Harvesters” on the 9 worlds of the UGC, and the subsequent destruction that they wrought specifically on UGC citizens and planetary infrastructures while sparing robots. After the attack, the Harvesters disappear, leaving no trace, but instead leaving an anti-robot paranoia amongst citizens of the UGC resulting in widespread robot culls.

We are then taken back to present day Niyata, and find how drastically things have changed post-Harvester attack. Dr. Quon survived the attack, and has fallen from his previous station in life, but is again being hailed to help the Megacosm! His research, and work in robotics prior to the Harvester attack are not unrelated!

The first issue of Descender is chock full of surprises and twists, which I wont reveal entirely to you, you absolutely need to go pick up this book! The story is crafted by Lemire with and amazing amount of humanity, and while we only briefly meet Dr. Quon, Tim-21 and Bandit, I found myself emotionally attached to them almost instantly. Dustin Nguyen utilizes his trademark minimalist line-work for the panel-to-panel, but adds an amazing amount of detail in the watercolor painting of every page. From his illustrations and coloring of cityscapes, to his people and aliens, Nguyen’s paintings lend an ethereal feel to the book, one that is beautiful, detailed, and absolutely fits perfect with the story-telling.

If you are a fan of science fiction, get out and find this book. It is also available with a variant cover done by Jeff Lemire. This story promises to challenge our perceptions of what it means to be human, and I cant wait to see where it takes us!

By Jon Garnett