I used to be a big fan of Mark Millar’s comics. Whatever the story was, you could generally expect some imaginative and fantastical (if a bit violent) adventures with great worldbuilding. In fact, without even realizing this was a Mark Millar comic, I volunteered to review it because that’s exactly what it sounded like: fantastical adventures and great worldbuilding. Based on this first issue, though, it kind of seems like he’s phoning it in.

The richest family in the known universe has been robbed. While the vast fortune stolen from them is just a drop in the bucket of their total net worth, to let it go would make them seem weak or vulnerable. So, the psychotic Queen of Enough sends her agents to the very furthest reaches of space, to track down the thieves and exact her bloody revenge.

Meanwhile, the two thieves, Cody Blue and Thena Khole, aren’t exactly laying low. Having pulled off the score of a lifetime, they’re living in luxury and opulence, hobnobbing with the ultra-fashionable society types they used to despise—and who definitely despise them right back. Being so high profile, it’s, of course, no surprise when Cody and Thena are attacked at their own gala and forced to go on the run.

Cody and Thena were actually the subjects of another Mark Millar comic a few years ago called Space Bandits. In fact, I didn’t realize it until I had gotten all the way through this issue and was perusing a catalogue of Millar’s other works in the backmatter, but I, in fact, read and reviewed that one when it came out in early 2020.

I do remember Space Bandits, and I rather enjoyed it. My general takeaway at the time was that the plot was a bit uninspiring, but the characters and worldbuilding made up for it. Now for Star-Crossed, it’s the same main characters, but there doesn’t seem to be much to distinguish them beyond “two thieves.” And the main bit of worldbuilding is a couple of pages of trading ’90s pop culture references.

There are a few things to recommend this comic. The main appeal is the artwork. Vivid and brightly colored, artist Corrado Mastanuono is the one who really helps get us engaged in the world. Aside from that, there are a couple of cool action bits, and the way our heroes escape when confronted by mercenaries is fairly fun. Plus, this is only the first issue, so there’s plenty of room for story and worldbuilding as we move forward.

In the end, it’s a reasonably entertaining comic, but without much to make it stand out. If you’re a fan of space action adventure stories, you’ll probably enjoy this one. But do yourself a favor: Before you pick up Star-Crossed, look for a comic called Lightstep. Another comic I reviewed a few years ago, also from Dark Horse, it has similar elements to Space Bandits and Star-Crossed, including an intergalactic empire, outlaws on the run, and a connection to 20th century Earth culture and media. But it’s a more engaging and worthwhile story, in my opinion, and generally more worth your time.

Creative Team: Mark Millar (writer), Corrado Mastanuono (artist, colorist), Niso Mastanuono (colorist), Clem Robins (letterer)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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