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Hey there Boils and Ghouls. Welcome to another special installment of the Dark Delights. This week I am going head first into the future as I take a look at the first two issues of Critical Millennium by Archaia Entertainment. Issue #1 is already out and #2 comes out this week, so you still have time to go buy them both.

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Issue: Critical Millennium #1
Writer/Creative Director: Andrew E. C. Gaska
Artist: Daniel Dussault
Letterer: Nina L. Kester
Proofs: Duncan Mc Lachlan
Publisher: Archaia
Pages: 40
Price: $3.95

“One thousand years of mankind’s rise and fall in space! A bold group of explorers takes the first steps toward leaving Earth’s solar system. Their quest: new worlds to colonize, so that humanity may yet have a chance at survival. The team is scorned by the world’s government and canonized by its citizens. And even getting off the ground, they soon realize, may be the most difficult task ahead. At mission’s end, their ship on the verge of collapse, its captain maddened by the depths of space, Captain Coney encounters a strange energy field on the edge of the universe, and the creature within.”

Artwork: 4.5 out of 5
Nice…Wow…Holy S@#*!!! That sums up the art on this one. I had this feeling before I even looked at page 1, that this was going to be very visually appealing to me, and I was right. Just starting with the character and location designs I was ecstatic looking at the details and everything that was hidden on every page. The coloring just took the whole book up that extra notch and was the icing on the cake. There is a lot of imagination and wonder to be found in these pages, so make sure to take the time and really explore.

Story: 4.0 out of 5
I really liked the pace of this issue. Running 40 pages gave it that extra time to explain and expand. The way the book started was so intriguing, and I loved the quick shots of how things went from basically Heaven to Hell with very little description. The pacing with the first chapter was nice and fast, and it really did a great job of gaining my interest and holding it while moving into chapter 2. So with the second part of the issue you get what you expect from a number 1. I will admit it was a bit wordy at times, but in the end you got from point a to point b, with so much information and detail, that it was a little overwhelming. However, it didn’t take anything away from the whole reading experience.

Dying Breath: 4.0 out of 5
From the beautifully created universe to the deep, rich storyline, this is one title that shouldn’t be missed. I am not a big fan of the futuristic sci-fi stories, but I am on board for anything that this title is going to throw at me. To me it is one of those books that I think if I personally pass on it, I will regret it. For those who might still be on the fence, I think if you didn’t find this being published by Archaia, you would find it in the pages of Heavy Metal or 2000 A.D. My recommendation is to take the $4 you’re going to spend on some Marvel title and drop it here, you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

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Issue: Critical Millennium #2
Writer/Creative Director: Andrew E. C. Gaska
Artist: Daniel Dussault
Letterer: Nina L. Kester
Proofs: Duncan Mc Lachlan
Publisher: Archaia
Pages: 40
Price: $3.95

“The chronicle of one thousand years of mankind’s rise and fall in outer space continues! Traveling to the outer system colonies with pop singer Angel Rei in tow, Thomm Coney and Eryc Kartoneas witness the first test launch of the experimental engine that will propel them to their destiny! But the Blackstar drive utilizes miniature black holes to catapult vessels to other worlds, and as the test begins, Thomm finds himself wondering, “Just what happens to Earth system if a black hole doesn’t close?” While the entrepreneurs are off world, natural calamity strikes New Bombay! In the devastated slums of the Ghost Quarter, the man called the Wraith rises to power, organizing the despondent Ghosts into a fanatical terrorist regime. Their focus: The death of those who would dare take mankind to the stars!“

Artwork: 4.5 out of 5
Well, that was pretty damn Gore-Geous. Issue #2 is just as strong in the art department as issue #1 was. I am in love with the paint look to these panels. The characters are nice and consistent from panel to panel, which I always think would be harder to do with the style. But the colors shine off of every page. The future worlds that are created  just seem so real and are a great visual treat for the eyes. I can not stop looking at this book.

Story: 4.0 out of 5
This issue seemed to move at a slower pace, while covering a good deal of time. Make sense? I would say that this issue covers 3-6 months, possibly more, but it is approached at a pace that really builds on what is to come. I can’t see this one ending after two more issues, it is very intriguing and has me wrapped up in its Sci-Fi web, and it has so much depth to it. My downside is that I feel the dialog can come off as too intelligent or above some people’s heads, as they go deep into explaining machines and how things work.

Dying Breath: 4.5 out of 5
The story and artwork on this book are very strong. It is so much fun to look at, but with the storyline on top of that, it is shaping up to be something very special. I said it before and I will say it again, take your hard earned $4 and head on over to this book on the rack. It is highly entertaining and I am on board for everything else that is on the way. Can I have #3 now?

To find out more about Critical Millennium #1 and #2, please go to http://www.archaia.com/ and grab a copy at your local comic shop.

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Decapitated Dan
decapitateddan@comicattack.net