Review: Mars Attacks First Born #2- A kind hearted book about the will to survive

Writer: Chris Ryall and Sam Kieth
Artist: Sam Kieth
Publisher: IDW
Released: 25th June 2014

****Spoilers in review******

Mars Attacks First Born is a warm-hearted tale of human survival in a post alien invasion apocalyptic wasteland. The art makes you feel good about the characters. It makes you want to protect them, to save them from the rampaging aliens.

The characters in the book are survivors. Damaged adults and children who are doing all they can to survive, but they are not comic book, two-dimensional characters. They have a real feel of humanity about them. They care about each other, and they are fragile. They have coping mechanisms that are a bit weird, but it’s a very real, human weirdness, and it makes you root for each and every one of them.

The main two characters in the book are ‘Uncle Woody’ and his little niece, who he endearingly refers to as ‘Claire Bear.’ The little girl has been traumatised by the alien invasion. The trauma has made her lose her sight, and she is caring for an alien baby, convinced that it’s her child (because she found it, and that’s where babies come from isn’t it?)

At the end of issue #1 it appeared that the aliens had killed her Uncle Woody. This was so sad. How can she possibly survive without him? He was her only protector, giving her a sense of normalcy in a far from normal situation. Without her kindly uncle she is just a blind little girl, carrying an alien baby who she thinks is her own human child. She doesn’t stand a chance, does she?

Issue #2 begins with a confused and vulnerable Claire Bear meeting other survivors, two young boys and their traumatised Mother. This is great news, but what about her Uncle Woody? Is he really dead? Happily, no he is not. Issue  #2 sees him crawling back from underneath a pile of rubble because his niece needs him, and it has really, really made my day. Come on Uncle Woody, you can make it. Claire Bear is fine, but she needs her Uncle Woody to be well.

Mars Attacks is usually just silly comedy with goofy characters, like the recent Mars Attacks Judge Dredd book by Al Ewing. There is nothing wrong with that, but this is a far superior book. The best Mars Attacks book I’ve read in years. This is not just more alien silliness. It’s a great little tale about human survival, with highly distinctive art that perfectly matches the tone of the writing, and I love every single page of it. I was hoping that Uncle Woody wasn’t dead. He isn’t, and I’m so happy. Rating: 9/10