by Brandy Dykhuizen. Satellite Falling doesn’t pull at your heartstrings so much as slowly wrap its fingers around all four chambers and deliver a painful squeeze. As Issue #3 brings us more of Lilly’s backstory, we get a better idea of just how low our planet sunk in order for her to jump ship. In an uncomfortably relevant scene from Lilly’s past, she lines up with her military unit (next to her beloved Eva), whose misunderstanding and fear lead to the execution of a terrified refugee. Yet all this inhumanity and heartlessness only strengthens Lilly’s resolve and causes her to dig deep into her reserves of empathy in order to make things right.
The characters are remarkably well developed. Each time we meet someone new, we feel like we’ve known them forever by the time we reach the end of the page. Steve Horton and Stephen Thompson invite us right into Lilly’s mind – we can see the resentment in her eyes as Zaim claims to request a “no strings” talk (yet clearly hopes to manipulate her by inhabiting a female form) and feel her guarded interest as Karbip introduces her to each potential member of her new team. Presenting the characters’ expressive faces from nearly all angles helps us pick up on the nuances of their communications rather quickly.
With art as unique and beautiful as the writing, each issue introduces us to new creatures in gorgeous detail. It’s apparent that the creators’ imagination runs deep, as none of these species feel familiar or derivative of beings we’ve seen before, be it on the comics page or elsewhere. With gripping plots, intelligent and intriguing characters, and endings that leave the reader hanging, I won’t be putting this series down any time soon. It’s time to embrace Satellite Falling.
IDW Publishing / $3.99
Written by Steve Horton.
Art by Stephen Thompson.
Colors by Lisa Jackson.
Letters by Neil Uyetake.
8.5 out of 10
