Astronaut and space explorer Ramon – along with his teammates Glenn, Addison, and Buckley – went on a mission to the Moon sponsored by the company Janus, but something went wrong: an encounter with a mysterious cosmic force granted Ramon new powers. Now back home, news of the Moon Man begins to spread, and Ramon tests the limits of his abilities; however, a sudden death shocks him to his core. Discovering that he wasn’t the only one to get new abilities, the Janus corporation wants what it paid for – no matter what it takes.
The long-awaited third entry into Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi’s debut series is finally here, and it was well worth the wait. If the first two issues showed the excitement and fear of Ramon discovering his powers, Moon Man #3 shows Ramon taking a moment to breathe and feel the weight of everything that’s happened while giving the reader time to reflect on everything, as well.
Learning that one of his crewmates has passed affected Ramon mentally. A large portion of this issue is dedicated to the arrival of an old friend from Ramon’s past. In fact, it’s within their conversation that we can see the struggle behind Ramon’s decisions.
Many superhero comics find inspiration in Spider-Man’s classic proverb: “With great power comes great responsibility.” Ramon is a man who has lived his dream and is now imbued with great power, and everyone around him wants something from him because of it, but the man needs his space.
Now that Ramon has had a chance to breathe, the existential dilemma is clear: Who is he and what will he do? It’s that narrative thread that pushes this story forward to fascinating heights. Social injustice is still one of, if not the most important theme presented in the story. Although this issue does slow down the action to gather its pieces, it still does a lot to showcase those social injustices, and it’s no doubt that that is where Ramon will go: fighting against those who think they own the people.
Marco Locati and Igor Monti’s art and colors are, without a doubt, intergalactic. Even in an issue where the action is toned down, the color palette truly brings the story to life. That, coupled with the art and the way the characters are expressed as real people (each with their unique features), is truly otherworldly. Of course, Chase Conley’s character designs are a large part of why it all works.
Mescudi, along with Kyle Higgins, truly craft a wonderful story using the issue to display each character’s motivations in addition to detailing Ramon’s inner struggles. If we were to go over every single one, this review would not only be three times as long, but you would deprive yourself of an amazing issue. Suffice it to say, there is a lot that happens, positioning the characters and the plot as it sets up the next chapter.
Moon Man #3 takes a second to catch its breath, bringing the character’s struggles and motivations to light, while emphasizing the struggles of what it means to be a human and a hero. It’s well worth the wait, proving that it’s a series well worth the spot on your pull list.
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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