This month I had the privilege of diving deeper into the world of Three Worlds / Three Moons, with the release of their latest printed collection from Dark Horse Comics, Shift, by line architects Jonathan Hickman (X-Men: Age of Krakoa, Fantastic Four, Ultimate Spider-Man) and Mike del Mundo (Weirdworld, Thor, Elektra, Avengers).
Shift takes readers to an earlier point in the timeline than the previous release, Foundations. In this book we get to see the world of Thera at a time when magic was at its peak and governed the system of Three Worlds/ Three Moons. As established in previous stories, this comic universe vacillates between magic and science being the preeminent power and philosophy in the solar system. As one wanes, the other gains strength and the two are forever at odds. In Foundations, science and the Institute were in power, and it was fascinating to see the reverse in Shift.
The world of Thera under magic is a colorful one, with fascinating and strange characters around every corner. Del Mundo fills his panels with expansive landscapes and grand structures that impress on the reader the majesty of a magic kingdom at the height of its powers. This otherworldly beauty could really only be captured by Del Mundo and those fans who know his work from Weirdworld will understand what I mean. Just as he conveyed the Realm of Asgard in Thor, Del Mundo also manages to make this magical realm feel grounded and lived in. Even instruments and vehicles that may seem technological are given an otherworldly biological feel. In one scene, magicians emerge from a literal belly of a beast. My favorite sequence of art in this book comes from a quieter, more somber moment. The story of Shift moves back and forth in time, with one section following the work of a “Man of Science” tasked with keeping a powerful and dormant AI alive. In one sequence, Del Mundo is able to convey the weight of the tasks on the “Man of Science.” Each cycle he awakens to feed the AI, hoping it will awaken and usher in a new era of science, but each time he is disappointed and sinks back into his tank and hibernation, ready to try again in the future. Without any dialogue we witness the “Man of Science” his head down, resigned to his cyclical hell as the water in his tube fills. Del Mundo then zooms in on his face as a single tear falls. A truly moving scene, all carried by Del Mundo’s storytelling ability.
As always in Three Worlds/ Three Moons, one power can’t remain ascendant forever and the main story shows that cracks in magic’s foundation are forming and the world is about to turn. We can see that this shining place has begun to rot from within due to prejudice and arrogance. Almost like our current climate crisis, there are those who want to address this future head on, and others who would like to remain willfully ignorant of the danger. I loved how Johns could both build up the mythology of Three Worlds/ Three Moons while at the same time presenting an allegory of modern times. Definitely a common component of the best science fiction writing.
Fans who enjoy Shift don’t have to wait long for more content, as this issue comes with a free 90-day free trial to Mythic, an online community and immense database of material and stories based in this new world. There is also a QR Code in order to watch a five-part motion comic version of Shift which I plan to view after writing this review. I highly recommend picking this book up and venturing onto Mythic. Like all projects undertaken by Hickman, there is a very deep and detailed world for readers to explore, and the art is simply some of the best around. Del Mundo’s art makes Shift feel like a fairytale painting, and it’s one of those books that will have readers just staring and soaking up the beautiful panels.
Creative Team: Jonathan Hickman (writer), Mike Del Mundo (artist/colorist), Marco D’Alfonso (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics with 3 Worlds/ 3 Moons
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