It seems to be one new release after another recently, what with Spacewarp and The 77. Next up on my new reading list is a comic from the guys at the Sentinel. My post lockdown, expanded waistline isn't going the thank me for sitting on my ass reading comics. But, as Alan Holloway was kind enough to send me a PDF preview copy, I grabbed a coffee and the biscuit tin and settled in for more reading.
As you may know, each issue of the Sentinel is a self contained story within its 60+ pages, this issue is titled A Fare to Remember. A sci-fi adventure set in the Garp System that revolves around the adventures and misadventures of rival taxi firms who take passengers of interstellar liners from the outer edge of the Garp System to their planet of choice.
The big two companies Depalma Taxis and Bickle Taxis are set at odds with each other to secure a contract that will see them become the biggest taxi firm in the system leaving the third class Badrok Taxis in their wake. Along the way we meet a variety of weird and wonderful passengers and even weirder employees. Who will get the contract, will anyone survive the battle of the taxi firms?
For this issue Alan Holloway didn't have Ed Doyle on the art duties (the blurb tells us he's taking a well deserved break) in Sentinel terms it's like Morecome without Wise. But Paul Spence has joined the team for this one giving us some very nice black and white artwork. I'm a sucker for the B & W art and for this, Paul's first full comic, he has channelled his inner Bellardinelli. He gives us a great wild range of alien characters, cities and spacecraft. I particularly enjoyed the little funny details in the background of scenes, pulling me deeper into his world.
Alan played to Paul's strengths and gave him a smart script that is a homage to the world of 2000ADs Ace Trucking Co. But cleverly, he has also managed to squeeze in more Easter Eggs into this tale than the Easter Bunnys basket. Remember the comedy series Taxi, or Taxi Driver the film? You'll find references to both here and much more. There is even an appearance by a taxi firm boss that has more than a passing resemblance to a certain football playing red alien.
Full disclosure I sat down to read A Fare to Remember after a very long, very hot week working on the wards and really I wasn't in the best frame of mind. Also humour comics aren't usually my thing anymore, I'd much rather go for violence and gore. However, within a few pages I was smiling to myself, thoroughly enjoying the story and happily read it in one sitting.
A Fare to Remember is great fun, the Kickstarter description says it's "a 64 Page fun space comedy with laughs, action and beautiful art" and I honestly couldn't sum it up better.
You can get your copy here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sentinelcomic/sentinel-3-a-fare-to-remember?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=A%20fare%20to%20remember%20
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