Scott Mescudi, also known by his stage name, “Kid Cudi,” makes his highly anticipated comic book debut with Moon Man #1 alongside writer extraordinaire Kyle Higgins. In the series, Ramon Townsend is an astronaut who is ready to adjust back into the quiet life after a space mission went wrong.
That’s proving to be a lot more difficult than anticipated, as all eyes have been on him ever since he and his crew went missing for seven minutes during their mission to the Moon. Although he’s trying to keep what happened a secret, he soon finds himself becoming something the world hasn’t seen before.
Mescudi’s tale might seem familiar, and that’s because it is. The question of whether or not you should help your fellow man, especially when you have the ability to do so, is a pillar in the comic book genre; you can even say that it’s the basis of all superhero stories.
If you have the power to do good, shouldn’t you help? We all know the famous phrase uttered by our favorite Uncle Ben (the one about great power and great responsibility), but the way it plays out in this series is what makes it such a compelling question, and Moon Man is undoubtedly a compelling story in that regard.
Without diving too deeply into spoiler territory, the story presents fascinating arguments about doing what you can to survive (especially if you are part of a marginalized community) while also being aware of the injustices that surround those actions. The story expertly confronts political and socioeconomic themes without weighing the issue down at all, especially since there is so much more to go over.
As with anything, Moon Man is a team effort, and that team absolutely nailed everything they were going for. New York Times best-selling author Kyle Higgins is the co-writer of the series, and his style is felt throughout the script.
The writing team of Mescudi and Higgins can only be described as a win. You can see the melding of these two expert storytellers playing off each other’s ideas, honing those talents into an entertaining story that leaves you wanting more.
The artwork throughout the issue also needs to be commended. Marco Locati’s illustrations perfectly capture the atmosphere and tone of the series. Locati creates a sense of wonder and scale that fits the thematic elements of cosmic wonder coupled with socio-political aggression; it’s most noticeable during the climax of the book. Locati’s art, coupled with Igor Monti’s beautiful color palette, transcends the comic book and captures that cosmic wonder every person has about traveling to outer space. The colors used in the cosmic parts of the book are beautiful and mesmerizing, but they aren’t overdone. Monti’s command of color and space is on full display. It’s subtle when it needs to be, and when the colors pop, they make a statement.
Chase Conley’s character designs also need a special mention here. Each character you see on the page is unique, like someone you’d meet on the sidewalk or see on TV; the characters don’t look like characterizations of people. Likewise, the design choices for the characters (especially the astronaut outfit) create a uniquely appealing look for the issue and the series as a whole.
Mescudi ⎯ a talented musician, artist, actor, and overall creative ⎯ has proven in this debut issue that his talent is, without a doubt, out of this world. (Pun absolutely and painfully intended.) His abilities work well with the creative team, each doing their job well to create a story that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
The expert craftsmanship of Mescudi and Higgins’ script, coupled with the phenomenal artwork of Locati and Monti, come together to create a unique and timely story that is sure to capture your attention. Moon Man #1 is an expertly crafted story that is sure to leave you excited for Issue #2 (which is scheduled for release on February 28).
Creative Team: Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi (writer); Kyle Higgins (writer); Marco Locati (art); Igor Monti (colors); Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (letters); Michael Bussutil (editorial and design); Wesley Griffith (production); Chase Conley (character designs)
Publisher: Image Comics
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