Out of time meets outer space as The Unbelievables Universe continues to expand in The Rocketfellers. We got Invaders, Y’all.
Let’s talk The Rocketfellers #14 – Story & Words By Peter J. Tomasi – Story & Art By Francis Manapul - Letters By Rob Leigh - Edited By Brian Cunningham - Published By Ghost Machine/Image Comics
The Rocketfellers #14 – Story & Words By Peter J. Tomasi – Story & Art By Francis Manapul - Letters By Rob Leigh - Edited By Brian Cunningham - Published By Ghost Machine/Image Comics
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Roland Rocketfeller is still missing.
After helping The Trillion Dollar Kid, Tommy Townsend III, save his robot assistant, Sterling, from causing the next (first?) Android War, the Rocketfeller family learns something vital that gives them hope: Roland is not dead, and anything lost can be found.
Meanwhile, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, the Redspot family is having a bit of trouble catching fish for their friend’s birthday barbecue. It’s understandable. They don’t get up to much fishing on Jupiter.
Ghost Machine’s fourth working universe, The Unbelievables, is in full swing. First, with The Deadtones appearing in Hornsby & Halo, and now Invaders Y’all with The Rocketfellers. Having the two new series appear where they do makes perfect thematic sense. Where Zach Halo and Rose Hornsby confront how to deal with living a double life, the Rocketfellers and Redspots are two families trying to blend into their new surroundings after extraordinary circumstances. It’s hilarious that the beings from Jupiter do a much better job than the human family from the future.
Despite a great introduction to the Redspot family, you’ll only truly know their situation after picking up Ghost Machine: The Official Guidebook issue three. In it, we learn the Redspots are actually alien beings from Jupiter, sent on a reconnaissance mission to Earth “after a humiliating defeat on Pluto against a colony of Jovian ice-miners,” whoever the hell they are.
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Now, they’ve been summoned by their downed, lifelike ship, deep in the lake, to receive a warning: an object made from parts of its organic material is heading their way. Cue Richie Rocketfeller being dragged through the air by his dad’s time zone pod piece, with Rex right behind him.
Tomasi and Manapul are doing their thing, crafting a family-friendly universe worth investing time in. It’s action-packed and full of heart, not unlike your favorite Disney or Nickelodeon movie. There’s something for everyone here, of all ages. I know I’m about to expose my rookie bona fides here, but this and Hornsby & Halo are my introduction to both Tomasi and Manapul, with only vague knowledge of their work. I’m so reading to dive into more.
Francis Manapul’s art is electric, pun most certainly intended. Yeah, it’s finely detailed; the Redspots character designs are fun and fish-like. I like the ship, especially. But it’s in how the tone in the visual storytelling can switch on a dime without whiplash that 's nuts. One minute, Richie is flying through his living room, and his family is trying to slow him down. Next minute, they’re grieving Roland again.
Peter J. Tomasi is writing his ass off in this universe. If someone is hunting them all down, it feels like each of the new series and characters are going to unite one day as a big ass team. Emphasis on big ass team because there’s a lot of new series coming soon. Also, there’s still room to crossover with Ghost Machine’s other universes!
Come on, man!
FINAL GRADE: 8.6
Here and now, the Unbelievables Universe is off to a strong start, and if their other ones are of any indication, we’re all in for a treat.
What y’all think? Am I trippin’? Let me know your thoughts on THE ROCKETFELLERS #14 in the comments below. Thanks for reading.!