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‘Husbands #4: Nocte Machinas’ Review: ‘Husbands’ in Space!

Husbands 4Sorry for the belated review, comic book sniffers, but like the hyper-sleeping Ellen Ripley, even if it’s 57 years later, I eventually arrive at my destination (hopefully, without any acid-bleeding stowaways)! Husbands #4: Nocte Machinas is the next chapter in the comic genre-jumping saga of Cheeks, Brady, and Haley and pushes the plot to places where no Husbands story has ever gone before! That’s right! “Husbands in space” is finally here, and we’ve been cleared for access to the bridge!

In this issue, writers Brad Bell and Jane Espenson finally launch our characters into the great beyond, where we meet the extraterrestrial Chipper Twee and his human companion, Blaze Hull, participants in a “man vs. machine” war taking place during the colonization of Europa. Given that the idea of “Husbands in space” was an initial factor in the inspiration for the Dark Horse comic series, Espenson and Bell have clearly been itching to get this story down on the page and it shows in the final product, which is an exuberant celebration of science fiction as seen through the Husbands-colored nebula. There are a number of great, classic genre references (and a FRAK! thrown in for good measure), but my favorite had to be Haley’s appearance in the book as H.A.L.-E., one of the few machines still working with the humans and clearly the much more fun cousin to 2001’s murderous computer. Another thing that really became clear with this issue is how spectacular the eventual trade paperback will be. Any collected volume where the reader can jump from genre to genre (and art style to art style) with the Husbands gang will end up being a wonderfully attractive, fun, and entertaining addition for any comic book sniffer!

As has been the case with the previous issues, the art style of this issue is perfectly chosen and an example of great talent. Artist Ben Dewey really stands out from the rest of the pack, bringing a clear, sci-fi edge with his incredibly detailed spaceships and his other mechanical creations. While Dewey still adds great emotional expressiveness to his characters, his knack for the spacecraft, robots, and epic, intergalactic background pieces makes this issue stand out from some of the more cartoony styles of art that worked for the previous genres invaded by the Husbands crew. Let’s be honest, that’s how these Husbands comics roll: great story, great art, great fun all around!

You can find out more about Husbands #4: Nocte Machinas, read a free preview, and purchase a digital copy of the first and second issues (for only $0.99) at the Dark Horse Comics website. Also, if you haven’t yet watched the Husbands sitcom, then be sure to stop by and familiarize yourself with what Ira Glass calls ‘the future of TV.’

That’s all for now, comic book sniffers. Be sure to beam up a copy of Husbands #4: Nocte Machinas!

In the meantime, you can also check out Fanboy Comics’ previous interviews with the Husbands cast and crew, as well as my previous reviews of the Husbands digital comics, at the following links:

 

Husbands #3 Review: A Case of Assumption’ Review – Sherlocking in Those Readers!

Husbands #2 Review: A Goddamsel Good Time!

Husbands: Drawn In #1 Review – Switching Mediums Like a Boss!

Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Jane Espenson

Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Brad “Cheeks” Bell

Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Sean Hemeon

Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews Jeff Greenstein

Husbands Season 2 Premiere: Fanboy Comics Interviews M. Elizabeth Hughes

WonderCon 2012: Jane Espenson and Brad Bell (aka Cheeks) Talk about Husbands

‘Till the end of the world,

-Bryant the Comic Book Slayer

 

 

Bryant Dillon, Fanbase Press President

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Favorite Comic BookPreacher by Garth Ennis and Steve DillonFavorite TV ShowBuffy the Vampire Slayer Favorite BookThe Beach by Alex Garland

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