Only half the chore of creating a solid science fiction story is building bizarre alien worlds and unimaginable intergalactic vessels. The key is always an identifiable cast of characters caught up in very real scenarios, despite whatever the setting might be. We as the readers should always be transported to someplace new, but we should never be lost without reliable guides.
Writer Jeff Loew understands this and employs it in his comic book, The Regulators. He and artist George Todorovoski blast off into outer space with a story of classic science fiction that strikes me as a nod to the genre’s pulp past. But it’s also a wink at human nature: no matter how far we progress, we’ll never learn the time-tested lessons of old.
The Regulators tells the story of Paxton “Pax” Manfreddy (a name worthy of Kilgore Trout if I do say so myself), an interplanetary cop known as a “Regulator”; he’s dispatched from the United Americas of Earth to the Wastelands of Mars in order to locate his missing colleague, Lyle Westin. Pax touches down on Mars in the crater city of Galle, and even in the future, we earthlings are still obsessed with seeing faces in the rocks of the Red Planet, as Galle resembles a ridiculously obvious smiley face.
It seems that Galle is hostile towards the Regulators due to their representation of enforcement hinged upon the will of the United Americas. Colonies seeking independence from a monopolizing motherland—this sounds awfully familiar. Regardless, Pax sets out to find his colleague, and he quickly learns who his friends and enemies are upon discovering the fate of Westin and setting out to right all of the wrongs that have occurred.
The classical sci-fi style of The Regulators is an admirable trait in Loew’s story; he’s certainly kicking around a lot of interesting and imaginative ideas at a time when all fiction seems to be in short supply of creativity. But Loew has a wit about his story, too: though there are laser battles across the dunes of Mars and Matrix-styled Martian libraries, the writer doesn’t neglect to point out the worst of human nature and how it survives despite all of our technological advancements. Earth holds a monopoly on the power supplies of Galle; those who can afford power flourish, and those who can’t wind up in the slums. How nice to know that corporatism survives across time and space.
If I were going to lob a complaint at The Regulators, it would be that a lot of interesting ideas are presented in the book, but the story doesn’t take its time and linger on all of the delights it is opening us up to. The book moves ahead at full throttle, and some of the charm is lost in the haste. But this is lessened by the grainy artwork of Todorovoski, who calls upon the forefathers of sci-fi past.
This is the second book I’ve read and enjoyed from the publishers at Visionary Comics. The first book was Aposperos, a story I’m still wildly impressed by for its enticing plot and delectable photo-realistic artwork. Happily, I add The Regulators to the list of Visionary Books that are worth a read. If digital media is the wave of the future, then Visionary is certainly ahead in the race.
This comic book review originally appeared on Broken Frontier.
