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Traveling to Mars
From Eisner Award winning writer Mark Russell and artist Roberto Meli comes a compelling new sci-fi series...
Traveling to Mars tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for this unlikely mission for one simple he is terminally ill and therefore has no expectation of returning. Roy is joined on his mission to Mars by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of god. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization as well, Roy has ample time to think about where things went wrong for both of them and what it means to be a dying god. A riveting story of planetary exploration and of finding meaning in your final days.
Collects the critically acclaimed 11-issue series plus cover gallery and bonus material.
Traveling to Mars tells the story of former pet store manager Roy Livingston, the first human to ever set foot on Mars. Roy was chosen for this unlikely mission for one simple he is terminally ill and therefore has no expectation of returning. Roy is joined on his mission to Mars by Leopold and Albert, two Mars rovers equipped with artificial intelligence, who look upon the dying pet store manager as a sort of god. Against the backdrop of not only his waning days but those of human civilization as well, Roy has ample time to think about where things went wrong for both of them and what it means to be a dying god. A riveting story of planetary exploration and of finding meaning in your final days.
Collects the critically acclaimed 11-issue series plus cover gallery and bonus material.
280 pages, Paperback
First published February 4, 2025
4 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Mark Russell
435 books385 followersMark Russell is the author of God Is Disappointed in You and Apocrypha Now. He also writes the comic book series Prez and The Flintstones for DC Comics. He lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 28, 2025
A terminally ill loser gets picked for a one way trip to Mars to claim the mineral resources, namely a large natural gas deposit, for a large corporation. Insightful, thought provoking, depressing, and hilarious, just like I like 'em.
June 25, 2025
Read June 23. 2025
This was a solid 4 stars. Some bits ventured into 5 star territory, others were 3 stars for a bit, so in the end I settled on a nice even 4.
The art was middle of the road in my opinion…altho the spacey stuff was excellent. The people seemed to be drawn somewhat hastily, the excessive lineage made for people that looked haggard, & boney. They were all sorta ugly if i’m being honest, their faces all looked similar with not enough detail to the face—specifically the eyes. The space ship and the Rovers were detailed and absolute perfection though. In fact, the Rovers were by far my favorite part about the story.
Basically people on earth have learned that there is a huge reserve of natural gas to be sourced from Mars and used to deal with the energy crisis that is currently worsening on earth. The journey to Mars is a rough one and can only be undergone by a person who understands that there will be no return trip. Naturally they turn to the terminally ill—in particular our MC Roy—who is not only terminally ill, but also lives a solitary existence with minimal attachments and for those reasons he is chosen by a beef corporation to be sent into space to be the first on Mars to claim the supposed gas reserves. It’s essentially a race to Mars as the first person that gets there can lay claim to all of it.
So Roy is sent into space with two Rovers to assist him on the spaceship (and also to keep him company) and the majority of the story is about Roy contemplating the life he led and the mistakes he made, in particular the mistake of contributing to the dissolution of his marriage to his ex wife Candace and allowing it to happen without fighting harder for the woman who would turn out to be his one and only love. He spends a majority of his time on the ship ruminating on the meaning of life, & especially on the meaning of a life led without self worth & human connection. It is somewhat bleak, which I did not love, altho I think I would have liked it much more if there was a little more substance to the story, or if the amount of lonely contemplation was cut down about 30-40 pages, as that part does seem to keep going on and on in the first 70%.
Finally he makes it to Mars where there are surprises waiting for him, as is to be expected. This part was by far my favorite part. The Rovers are darling little things, & when an artist can successfully depict a robot emoting, & somehow strike a chord within you to feel empathy for a robot, you know they hit the mark.
I have to say that I did hope for a different ending, but as the story was ultimately a story about a man coming to terms with the life he led, I do think that the ending was fitting. It’s just that I am one of those people that much prefers an ending with a distinct resolution over anything more open ended, and in this case I definitely felt that things ended with a few strings left dangling. After investing so much time in this story I would’ve liked to know what happened to the world, also I would have liked to get Candice‘s reaction to Roy’s feelings and situation. I think some confirmation that she still loved him as well and would feel his loss would have been nice, but I have no doubt that that was missing intentionally. Roy’s entire storyline was that of loneliness and regret & him coming to terms with the mistakes he’d made, so the lack of a live response from her was no doubt meant to highlight the repercussions of those choices that he has had to live, even all the way in Mars.
But most of all I would have wanted to see the way the situation played out for the Rovers—maybe see them all prepared for this spaceships that are coming? Anything just to give me a feeling that they would be safe, as they were the most endearing characters of the story BY FAR!
Overall an enjoyable read, I do love the space aesthetic so that aspect of the art was quite beautiful. Recommended for anybody that enjoys the alone-in-space trope.
This was a solid 4 stars. Some bits ventured into 5 star territory, others were 3 stars for a bit, so in the end I settled on a nice even 4.
The art was middle of the road in my opinion…altho the spacey stuff was excellent. The people seemed to be drawn somewhat hastily, the excessive lineage made for people that looked haggard, & boney. They were all sorta ugly if i’m being honest, their faces all looked similar with not enough detail to the face—specifically the eyes. The space ship and the Rovers were detailed and absolute perfection though. In fact, the Rovers were by far my favorite part about the story.
Basically people on earth have learned that there is a huge reserve of natural gas to be sourced from Mars and used to deal with the energy crisis that is currently worsening on earth. The journey to Mars is a rough one and can only be undergone by a person who understands that there will be no return trip. Naturally they turn to the terminally ill—in particular our MC Roy—who is not only terminally ill, but also lives a solitary existence with minimal attachments and for those reasons he is chosen by a beef corporation to be sent into space to be the first on Mars to claim the supposed gas reserves. It’s essentially a race to Mars as the first person that gets there can lay claim to all of it.
So Roy is sent into space with two Rovers to assist him on the spaceship (and also to keep him company) and the majority of the story is about Roy contemplating the life he led and the mistakes he made, in particular the mistake of contributing to the dissolution of his marriage to his ex wife Candace and allowing it to happen without fighting harder for the woman who would turn out to be his one and only love. He spends a majority of his time on the ship ruminating on the meaning of life, & especially on the meaning of a life led without self worth & human connection. It is somewhat bleak, which I did not love, altho I think I would have liked it much more if there was a little more substance to the story, or if the amount of lonely contemplation was cut down about 30-40 pages, as that part does seem to keep going on and on in the first 70%.
Finally he makes it to Mars where there are surprises waiting for him, as is to be expected. This part was by far my favorite part. The Rovers are darling little things, & when an artist can successfully depict a robot emoting, & somehow strike a chord within you to feel empathy for a robot, you know they hit the mark.
I have to say that I did hope for a different ending, but as the story was ultimately a story about a man coming to terms with the life he led, I do think that the ending was fitting. It’s just that I am one of those people that much prefers an ending with a distinct resolution over anything more open ended, and in this case I definitely felt that things ended with a few strings left dangling. After investing so much time in this story I would’ve liked to know what happened to the world, also I would have liked to get Candice‘s reaction to Roy’s feelings and situation. I think some confirmation that she still loved him as well and would feel his loss would have been nice, but I have no doubt that that was missing intentionally. Roy’s entire storyline was that of loneliness and regret & him coming to terms with the mistakes he’d made, so the lack of a live response from her was no doubt meant to highlight the repercussions of those choices that he has had to live, even all the way in Mars.
But most of all I would have wanted to see the way the situation played out for the Rovers—maybe see them all prepared for this spaceships that are coming? Anything just to give me a feeling that they would be safe, as they were the most endearing characters of the story BY FAR!
Overall an enjoyable read, I do love the space aesthetic so that aspect of the art was quite beautiful. Recommended for anybody that enjoys the alone-in-space trope.
September 13, 2025
Well damn.
March 13, 2025
Wow. "Traveling to Mars" is one of the most powerful graphic novels I've ever read. Last year, I read "The Many Deaths of Laila Starr" by Ram V. and it hit my heart. This one did the same. It was heavy, but also beautiful and thought-provoking.
The main character is Roy Livingston. He is a former pet store manager and he has terminal cancer. Because of this, he was chosen to go to Mars and to claim its resources for a corporation. He narrates this story through diary entries. Many of them lead to numerous flashbacks. While I am not a big fan of stories that do this, I felt that each flashback and entry about the past effectively told and showed the story. Indeed, they each told us more about Roy's life, tied directly to the plot, and drove the themes of the book. Plus, I like how they gradually revealed more about Roy. I appreciated how they did not feel like info-dumps. Now that I think about it, I guess they could be, in a way, considered an info-dump, but I personally like the way they were integrated overall and thought that Russell did a good job altogether with this.
The flashbacks also helped to make Roy's character relatable. Like many people, he has struggled to find meaning and purpose in his life and has often faced judgment from others while doing so. He also has many regrets, and I felt for him. The motivations for his actions - and the reasons for his regrets - were clear. Much of the book focuses on the pain that he is going through, but it is also layered with deep reflections about life and our world as whole.
Indeed, this book contains a lot of commentary about both of these topics. It shows how life is often not valued and seen as expendable. Whether it is a human life, an animal life, or a robotic life, there are examples of exploitation and disregard for the value of lives as well as how often people are forgotten. There is also resource exploitation. The world that Roy lives in is a futuristic one that is in its last days. At the same time though, the book explores the impact that we can have on one another. The connections we share, the moments that we spend with each other - and how important such bonds and experiences are - all of these are explored in the book. This goes for humans, animals, and robots in the story. There is also a discussion of the meaning and beauty that is created from this. It hit deep.
What I also love about the story is the relationships within it. I really like how Russell wrote Roy's relationships with Leopold and Albert and other robots. The bonds that he forms with them and the interactions he has felt natural (as did the evolution of their relationships). I also like how Russell explored the relationships between Roy and both of his parents as well as Candace. The ups and downs and the most relevant and meaningful events were shown in a powerful way. Roy's character arc was great too and I like how it ended.
The art was great too. The coloring is excellent. Meli did an incredible job. The lettering was good too. It's certainly possible to have a graphic novel that is too wordy, but this was not the case here.
Overall, I really enjoyed, "Traveling to Mars". It is powerful and deep and, in my view, has some great commentary. It got me thinking a lot about life. Perhaps I'm a bit biased because I ruminate a lot about life and philosophy is a topic that I'm intrigued by. But still, I think this is a great book with good characterization, solid art, and a great plot.
The main character is Roy Livingston. He is a former pet store manager and he has terminal cancer. Because of this, he was chosen to go to Mars and to claim its resources for a corporation. He narrates this story through diary entries. Many of them lead to numerous flashbacks. While I am not a big fan of stories that do this, I felt that each flashback and entry about the past effectively told and showed the story. Indeed, they each told us more about Roy's life, tied directly to the plot, and drove the themes of the book. Plus, I like how they gradually revealed more about Roy. I appreciated how they did not feel like info-dumps. Now that I think about it, I guess they could be, in a way, considered an info-dump, but I personally like the way they were integrated overall and thought that Russell did a good job altogether with this.
The flashbacks also helped to make Roy's character relatable. Like many people, he has struggled to find meaning and purpose in his life and has often faced judgment from others while doing so. He also has many regrets, and I felt for him. The motivations for his actions - and the reasons for his regrets - were clear. Much of the book focuses on the pain that he is going through, but it is also layered with deep reflections about life and our world as whole.
Indeed, this book contains a lot of commentary about both of these topics. It shows how life is often not valued and seen as expendable. Whether it is a human life, an animal life, or a robotic life, there are examples of exploitation and disregard for the value of lives as well as how often people are forgotten. There is also resource exploitation. The world that Roy lives in is a futuristic one that is in its last days. At the same time though, the book explores the impact that we can have on one another. The connections we share, the moments that we spend with each other - and how important such bonds and experiences are - all of these are explored in the book. This goes for humans, animals, and robots in the story. There is also a discussion of the meaning and beauty that is created from this. It hit deep.
What I also love about the story is the relationships within it. I really like how Russell wrote Roy's relationships with Leopold and Albert and other robots. The bonds that he forms with them and the interactions he has felt natural (as did the evolution of their relationships). I also like how Russell explored the relationships between Roy and both of his parents as well as Candace. The ups and downs and the most relevant and meaningful events were shown in a powerful way. Roy's character arc was great too and I like how it ended.
The art was great too. The coloring is excellent. Meli did an incredible job. The lettering was good too. It's certainly possible to have a graphic novel that is too wordy, but this was not the case here.
Overall, I really enjoyed, "Traveling to Mars". It is powerful and deep and, in my view, has some great commentary. It got me thinking a lot about life. Perhaps I'm a bit biased because I ruminate a lot about life and philosophy is a topic that I'm intrigued by. But still, I think this is a great book with good characterization, solid art, and a great plot.
Read
June 1, 2024"We believe that what we do is in service to something greater than ourselves. Which, in all likelihood, is just what we tell ourselves so we'll do it. Because when life is so short and death so eternal, whatever we spend the pain of living on is, by definition, so much smaller."
I've mentioned before that lately Mark Russell's work seems to have tipped from blackly comic satires of human idiocy into sheer howls of despair, and this one is no exception. On top of which, it's 11 issues, which is possibly too much time to spend with a pet shop manager who, having made nothing of his life before a terminal cancer diagnosis, is now on a lonely one-way trip from a dying Earth to a dead Mars, the plan being to claim its mineral reserves for his sponsors and thus put them at the top of the heap for such little time as this will buy civilisation before its slightly postponed collapse. Along the way, he develops a bond with his erratic robot crewmates, watches a film library that's less extensive than he was promised, and muses on lost love, missed chances, and the vanity of human achievements. Flashbacks, daydreams, and the shabby warmth of Roberto Meli's art do a great job of maintaining visual interest, and given the scenario, it's remarkable how the comic never becomes dull - but when it's so suffused with regret for what was not to be and the utter futility even if it had been, I'm not sure how much of a recommendation that is. The worst of it, of course, being that this is set a couple of decades in our future and, at least in the early issues, everyday life on Earth only looks slightly worse than now, so what looks dystopian is in fact wildly optimistic. By the end it's doing its best to dig some sort of consolation out from under the amassed awfulness, but I'd still consider it a very good comic you should probably only give to people you don't like.
(Edelweiss ARC)
I've mentioned before that lately Mark Russell's work seems to have tipped from blackly comic satires of human idiocy into sheer howls of despair, and this one is no exception. On top of which, it's 11 issues, which is possibly too much time to spend with a pet shop manager who, having made nothing of his life before a terminal cancer diagnosis, is now on a lonely one-way trip from a dying Earth to a dead Mars, the plan being to claim its mineral reserves for his sponsors and thus put them at the top of the heap for such little time as this will buy civilisation before its slightly postponed collapse. Along the way, he develops a bond with his erratic robot crewmates, watches a film library that's less extensive than he was promised, and muses on lost love, missed chances, and the vanity of human achievements. Flashbacks, daydreams, and the shabby warmth of Roberto Meli's art do a great job of maintaining visual interest, and given the scenario, it's remarkable how the comic never becomes dull - but when it's so suffused with regret for what was not to be and the utter futility even if it had been, I'm not sure how much of a recommendation that is. The worst of it, of course, being that this is set a couple of decades in our future and, at least in the early issues, everyday life on Earth only looks slightly worse than now, so what looks dystopian is in fact wildly optimistic. By the end it's doing its best to dig some sort of consolation out from under the amassed awfulness, but I'd still consider it a very good comic you should probably only give to people you don't like.
(Edelweiss ARC)
December 21, 2024
Traveling to Mars features a fairly conventional dystopian premise - the Earth's resources are done for, so the salvation of humanity now lies in the stars. When a Mars rover reports a large deposit of natural gas under the surface, the race to own the drilling rights is on. One such megacorporation to undergo the space race to Mars is the Easy Beef Corporation, who recruit Roy Livingston, a former pet store owner currently suffering from cancer, to helm their spaceship. Roy, absent hope or direction in life, decides that taking on the one-way trip to Mars will be a good way to live out his remaining days. Joining Roy on the trip are two robots, Leopold and Albert, who aid in the journey. All 11 issues were drawn by Roberto Meli, who capably delivers the artwork for the story. It's not the most imaginative of art, but the story doesn't demand it given that it is a fairly meditative narrative. Mark Russell chooses to have a story where the main character mostly ponders his life, and as such Meli is relegated to delivering on some rather subdued scenes. The story does drag a little with some uninteresting sequences visually, but overall it was a pretty engaging read.
Critique and satire on late stage capitalism is pretty much Mark Russell's wheelhouse, and that does make up a large part of what this comic is about. Russell's snappy jabs towards the inherent acceptance of oligarchic control land well here, as they have in the numerous works he's done this for previously. It could get old fast, but Traveling to Mars also extends itself beyond just the social critiques. With the character of Roy, Russell delivers a rather existential outlook on the meaning of life. Given that Roy's motivations are pretty much suicidal, the story is understandably dour. But along the journey, Roy's examination of his own life leading up to the decision to take the Mars mission serves to uncover a greater meaning in what it is to be alive. It's a wistful story towards the end, but one that adds a layer of hope to what otherwise would have been yet another sterile examination of the end of all humanity. Despite being a bit overlong, this is one of Mark Russell's best works on this type of subject matter since Not All Robots.
Critique and satire on late stage capitalism is pretty much Mark Russell's wheelhouse, and that does make up a large part of what this comic is about. Russell's snappy jabs towards the inherent acceptance of oligarchic control land well here, as they have in the numerous works he's done this for previously. It could get old fast, but Traveling to Mars also extends itself beyond just the social critiques. With the character of Roy, Russell delivers a rather existential outlook on the meaning of life. Given that Roy's motivations are pretty much suicidal, the story is understandably dour. But along the journey, Roy's examination of his own life leading up to the decision to take the Mars mission serves to uncover a greater meaning in what it is to be alive. It's a wistful story towards the end, but one that adds a layer of hope to what otherwise would have been yet another sterile examination of the end of all humanity. Despite being a bit overlong, this is one of Mark Russell's best works on this type of subject matter since Not All Robots.
June 10, 2025
Earth has nearly run out of fossil fuels. Thankfully, one of the Mars rovers has discovered a new supply of energy under Mars’ surface. Therefore, the Easy Beef Corporation has funded a mission to Mars. Their plan? Send someone who is disposable on a suicide mission where they will officially lay claim to Mars’ energy. That disposable man is Roy Livingston, a divorced pet store assistant manager who is dying of cancer.
The majority of the story is from Roy’s perspective while en route to Mars. There are quite a few flashbacks as well, developing Roy’s character.
On the surface this just looks like another dystopian story, but it’s much more than that. As Russell likes to do, this story tackles the big questions about life, the universe, and everything. There are so many great quotations scattered throughout the eleven issues. The story is also quite touching. Russell does a great job pulling on our heartstrings when it comes to Roy’s mom, Roy’s ex-wife, and even the dang robots.
Great writing, great characters, great art.
The majority of the story is from Roy’s perspective while en route to Mars. There are quite a few flashbacks as well, developing Roy’s character.
On the surface this just looks like another dystopian story, but it’s much more than that. As Russell likes to do, this story tackles the big questions about life, the universe, and everything. There are so many great quotations scattered throughout the eleven issues. The story is also quite touching. Russell does a great job pulling on our heartstrings when it comes to Roy’s mom, Roy’s ex-wife, and even the dang robots.
Great writing, great characters, great art.
September 23, 2025
4.5 stars...rounding up to 5 because this really surprised me with how invested I ended up getting. I wasn't sure at the beginning...I both loved the artwork and didn't like it...the main character wasn't drawn in a way that I liked but pretty much everything else was stellar. This was funny...and heartbreaking...and depressing...and also uplifting. Such a great read. Forget the Martian or Project Hail Mary (well...don't because those are excellent)...but I'd love to see a movie or miniseries adaptation of this. Highly recommend.
April 27, 2025
It poses as a sci-fi comic set in the near future with a rather ridiculous setting, but actually it is a deeply philosophical masterpiece. Full of existential questions, gut wrenching regret, soul-searching and subtle humor. Not a light read for sure. Makes you to reflect on life and nudges you to do that thing that you would later regret not doing.
May 26, 2025
This is a very, very good comic book about a man contemplating his life, on his way to die on Mars.
If you get the chance, read it.
Its a bit like sweet suffering and works very well in the comic medium. I understand why it has won a bunch of prizes.
If you get the chance, read it.
Its a bit like sweet suffering and works very well in the comic medium. I understand why it has won a bunch of prizes.
March 12, 2025
Much more melancholy than most of Russell's satires of modern capitalism. In the end it explores how a person (or a robot) can find meaning for themselves.
April 17, 2025
Traveling To Mars by Mark Russell
"In a universe that shouldn't exist, maybe the only thing worth believing in is the impossible.."
What I like most about Mark Russell, barring his poetically witty writing, is his ability to make you think - he gives you food for thoughts - powerful thoughts which tend to linger long enough after you finish reading. This book is no exception. On the contrary, this book is most probably up there as most thought provoking books he ever wrote like Second Coming or Not all robots. In fact, this story has an indirect link to those books ,so I would recommend you read those before you read this. Especially Not all robots.
In an effort to not spoil the story for you, I won't go into the story or the mind-blowing twists and turns and surprises it offers, I would just speak up my mind and the thoughts it instilled in me after or while reading.
We created artificial intelligence and robots in our own image, so if the AI or the robots aren't perfect or flawed that's only because we aren't perfect, we are flawed. Similarly if God created us in His own image and we turned out to be what we are - then maybe God isn't perfect either, or maybe there isn't any God at all. And all these creations are just - accidents. Funny to think about it - if you take consideration of what we are in the specs of the whole universe - we aren't even worth as a night burp in the eternal sleep of nothingness. Then what gives us the right to claim anything, to own anything, to even think or say that we 'want' - be it anything. We are nothing, we have nothing. And despite what was gifted to us by a cosmic accident, we made sure we destroyed the very essence of it. That's why we are blind when we see miracles, we become silent when we see injustice, we become ignorant when we kill unborn babies in the name of healthcare. And we ain't afraid to kill God because He is not our God. Sigh.. (Maybe God was dead long before we even created Him)
But, having said that, maybe there's still hope. I hope that we can make sense of ourselves one day - maybe - just maybe - we become worthy to matter even in this endless nothingness - if we're lucky...
"In a universe that shouldn't exist, maybe the only thing worth believing in is the impossible.."
What I like most about Mark Russell, barring his poetically witty writing, is his ability to make you think - he gives you food for thoughts - powerful thoughts which tend to linger long enough after you finish reading. This book is no exception. On the contrary, this book is most probably up there as most thought provoking books he ever wrote like Second Coming or Not all robots. In fact, this story has an indirect link to those books ,so I would recommend you read those before you read this. Especially Not all robots.
In an effort to not spoil the story for you, I won't go into the story or the mind-blowing twists and turns and surprises it offers, I would just speak up my mind and the thoughts it instilled in me after or while reading.
We created artificial intelligence and robots in our own image, so if the AI or the robots aren't perfect or flawed that's only because we aren't perfect, we are flawed. Similarly if God created us in His own image and we turned out to be what we are - then maybe God isn't perfect either, or maybe there isn't any God at all. And all these creations are just - accidents. Funny to think about it - if you take consideration of what we are in the specs of the whole universe - we aren't even worth as a night burp in the eternal sleep of nothingness. Then what gives us the right to claim anything, to own anything, to even think or say that we 'want' - be it anything. We are nothing, we have nothing. And despite what was gifted to us by a cosmic accident, we made sure we destroyed the very essence of it. That's why we are blind when we see miracles, we become silent when we see injustice, we become ignorant when we kill unborn babies in the name of healthcare. And we ain't afraid to kill God because He is not our God. Sigh.. (Maybe God was dead long before we even created Him)
But, having said that, maybe there's still hope. I hope that we can make sense of ourselves one day - maybe - just maybe - we become worthy to matter even in this endless nothingness - if we're lucky...
December 29, 2024
Tak nějak nevím, kde začít.. Poslední třetina knihy mi připomínala jeden starý kreslený vtip z roku 2012. Byl to takový jednostránkový komiks a byl spíše smutný než vtipný. Ani bych se nedivil, kdyby právě tento vtip stál za zrodem této knihy.
Celkově se mi ten nápad na příběh líbí, a líbí se mi i jeho rozvedení. Líbí se mi, jak příběh řeší, co by se všechno mohlo stát a jak by někteří lidi a společnosti na situaci, nastíněnou v anotaci knihy, reagovali.
Jsou tu však i věci a rysy scénáře, které se mi až tak nelíbí. A je to čistě subjektivní, protože jiní to můžou shledávat jako to nejlepší.
Jde o bilancování života hlavního hrdiny. Je jasné, že to tam být musí, o tom ta kniha je. Jsou na to navázané úvahy o smyslu života i závěrečná pointa celého příběhu, ale za mě toho bylo možná až moc. Možná to při příštím čtení budu vnímat trošku jinak. Taky mám pocit, že oproti začátku knihy ke konci vymizel humor.
Druhá věc, která se mi jeví jako lehce nepatřičná, jsou emoce robotů. Z celé knihy jsem měl dojem, že se jedná o hard sci-fi. Až na ty roboty. Ti se chovají jako Sonny z ‘Já, robot’, anebo jako C3PO ze ‘Star Wars’. Anebo jako Johnny 5 a WALL-E (nešlo je nenapsat). A zase, chápu, proč to tam je, ale v určitých momentech mi to tam vůbec nesedělo.
Moc se mi líbí kresba. Možná ještě více ve skicáři než v samotném komiksu. Bonusová část tentokrát opravdu potěšila.
Jo a co se týká kytary, tak na tu se vůbec nehraje. Ta je buďto někde opřená, anebo přenášená. Tak nějak mi připomněla některé knihy, které jsem schopný vozit na dovolené i několik let, než se do nich konečně začtu.
Celkově se mi ten nápad na příběh líbí, a líbí se mi i jeho rozvedení. Líbí se mi, jak příběh řeší, co by se všechno mohlo stát a jak by někteří lidi a společnosti na situaci, nastíněnou v anotaci knihy, reagovali.
Jsou tu však i věci a rysy scénáře, které se mi až tak nelíbí. A je to čistě subjektivní, protože jiní to můžou shledávat jako to nejlepší.
Jde o bilancování života hlavního hrdiny. Je jasné, že to tam být musí, o tom ta kniha je. Jsou na to navázané úvahy o smyslu života i závěrečná pointa celého příběhu, ale za mě toho bylo možná až moc. Možná to při příštím čtení budu vnímat trošku jinak. Taky mám pocit, že oproti začátku knihy ke konci vymizel humor.
Druhá věc, která se mi jeví jako lehce nepatřičná, jsou emoce robotů. Z celé knihy jsem měl dojem, že se jedná o hard sci-fi. Až na ty roboty. Ti se chovají jako Sonny z ‘Já, robot’, anebo jako C3PO ze ‘Star Wars’. Anebo jako Johnny 5 a WALL-E (nešlo je nenapsat). A zase, chápu, proč to tam je, ale v určitých momentech mi to tam vůbec nesedělo.
Moc se mi líbí kresba. Možná ještě více ve skicáři než v samotném komiksu. Bonusová část tentokrát opravdu potěšila.
Jo a co se týká kytary, tak na tu se vůbec nehraje. Ta je buďto někde opřená, anebo přenášená. Tak nějak mi připomněla některé knihy, které jsem schopný vozit na dovolené i několik let, než se do nich konečně začtu.
June 28, 2025
I expected more from this. Not that there isn’t a lot going on. It’s a memoir recorded in a journal that we are supposedly reading even though it’s buried inside an igloo cooler on Mars. (There are too many of those kind of jarring discrepancies, the “Wait a minute! That couldn’t happen. Now this doesn’t make sense” moments.) Some of this is funny. Much of it is bleak. But overall, the whole thing was just sort of corny to me.
It’s an action/adventure story in outer space. It’s a philosophic introspection on the meaning of life and a personal search for purpose going on inside the head of a dying man who is a self described loser or at least a self admitted accomplisher of nothing. It’s a treatise on our world’s reluctance to take our ecological problems seriously combined with a satire on corporate greed and capitalism.
There are flashbacks of his youth with parents that comment on religion. And there are the flashbacks of his growing relationship with his only love and it is his severed connection with this person that is the heart of this story which ends about as maudlin as one would expect. And one’s reaction to the end of the overall story- the journey to Mars- depends upon whether the reader finds anthropomorphizing of robots cute or stupid. You can probably guess what I thought.
It’s an action/adventure story in outer space. It’s a philosophic introspection on the meaning of life and a personal search for purpose going on inside the head of a dying man who is a self described loser or at least a self admitted accomplisher of nothing. It’s a treatise on our world’s reluctance to take our ecological problems seriously combined with a satire on corporate greed and capitalism.
There are flashbacks of his youth with parents that comment on religion. And there are the flashbacks of his growing relationship with his only love and it is his severed connection with this person that is the heart of this story which ends about as maudlin as one would expect. And one’s reaction to the end of the overall story- the journey to Mars- depends upon whether the reader finds anthropomorphizing of robots cute or stupid. You can probably guess what I thought.
July 2, 2025
Traveling to Mars, by Mark Russell & Co.
Bitter sweet, original, philosophical, morbid yet redemptive. Worthwhile reading. ****
#1- "Whoever's reading this should know that I'm not the hero of this story."
#2- "I regret watching too much TV."
#3- "-- to feel better about having wasted it all."
#4- "You're not ALONE out there."
#5- "It was like I'd returned to a different planet than the one I'd left that morning."
"Or maybe it's not a storm at all. But simply your soul knocking you back on course."
#6- "I'll be dead within a week and the rest of the human race not long after."
#7- "They'd only lied to get what they needed out of life. As I suppose we all do."
#8- ".. I would tell her to run [and not marry me].."
#9- "And inside that envelope was.. a letter from Candice."
#10- "I had landed on Mars with only three days of oxygen. So, like most tourists on a tight timeline, I focused on the highlights."
#11- "And the world carries on without us. If we're lucky."
Bitter sweet, original, philosophical, morbid yet redemptive. Worthwhile reading. ****
#1- "Whoever's reading this should know that I'm not the hero of this story."
#2- "I regret watching too much TV."
#3- "-- to feel better about having wasted it all."
#4- "You're not ALONE out there."
#5- "It was like I'd returned to a different planet than the one I'd left that morning."
"Or maybe it's not a storm at all. But simply your soul knocking you back on course."
#6- "I'll be dead within a week and the rest of the human race not long after."
#7- "They'd only lied to get what they needed out of life. As I suppose we all do."
#8- ".. I would tell her to run [and not marry me].."
#9- "And inside that envelope was.. a letter from Candice."
#10- "I had landed on Mars with only three days of oxygen. So, like most tourists on a tight timeline, I focused on the highlights."
#11- "And the world carries on without us. If we're lucky."
May 5, 2024
I do think i dragged in the middle a little bit, but I live just to enjoy Mark Russell's philosophical musings, no matter how cheesy it is.
I really thought by the end, the protagonist is at his lowest point, there is no way it could have a happy ending. But Mark Russell slapped me in the face and called me silly. This is comics, where anything can happened. Even in the day when humanity dies, you can still kickstart life on a new planet. Even in your darkest day, you can still do something to make life worth living. Go outside to find some insects, call your parents, learn to build something new from the internet. Even when we're trapped in a system that hates and kills our brothers and sisters, even when we're half the world apart, we can fight back, however we can.
I really thought by the end, the protagonist is at his lowest point, there is no way it could have a happy ending. But Mark Russell slapped me in the face and called me silly. This is comics, where anything can happened. Even in the day when humanity dies, you can still kickstart life on a new planet. Even in your darkest day, you can still do something to make life worth living. Go outside to find some insects, call your parents, learn to build something new from the internet. Even when we're trapped in a system that hates and kills our brothers and sisters, even when we're half the world apart, we can fight back, however we can.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2025
With 11 months between ordering this book and reading it I had completely forgotten what it was that enticed me in the first place. to be honest, I forgot what it was about beyond being a mission to Mars. And yet, is that really what it is about?
Like many great stories the tale isn't so much about what is placed front and center. The journey of the story isn't really about travelling to Mars, although that happens, but of the personal journey. No real surprises there.
This is a touching story. With many moments for tears and joy. Plenty of social commentary. And a dose of comedy dosed hard sci-fi with perhaps a nod in the direction to the likes of Silent Running.
I loved this for all of the above and think that there is much for many between these covers. Enjoy.
Like many great stories the tale isn't so much about what is placed front and center. The journey of the story isn't really about travelling to Mars, although that happens, but of the personal journey. No real surprises there.
This is a touching story. With many moments for tears and joy. Plenty of social commentary. And a dose of comedy dosed hard sci-fi with perhaps a nod in the direction to the likes of Silent Running.
I loved this for all of the above and think that there is much for many between these covers. Enjoy.
January 16, 2026
I think Patton Oswalt lied to me. In his introduction of this collection he promised that the story would start out grim and then get funny. I never got to the funny part.
It was a good story of a man ruminating over his life and life altering decisions that led him to be dying of cancer and, so, recruited for a one way mission to be the first man on Mars in order to claim the reported natural gas deposits on the red planet to ease the energy crisis that has beset Earth in 2048. It was philosophical and had a good moral about how best to approach living one's life to the best. The art was excellent, too.
There were some humorous moments, but nothing beyond a random chuckle or two. Don't believe everything you read in an introductory synopsis, though your mileage may differ.
It was a good story of a man ruminating over his life and life altering decisions that led him to be dying of cancer and, so, recruited for a one way mission to be the first man on Mars in order to claim the reported natural gas deposits on the red planet to ease the energy crisis that has beset Earth in 2048. It was philosophical and had a good moral about how best to approach living one's life to the best. The art was excellent, too.
There were some humorous moments, but nothing beyond a random chuckle or two. Don't believe everything you read in an introductory synopsis, though your mileage may differ.
April 24, 2025
All I can say is this was beautiful. Mark Russell really did it again. The first standalone comic I ever read from him was Second Coming, which leaned more into satire and humor. But this one? It felt different. It had less focus on jokes and more on meaning on asking life’s big questions and letting them breathe through the story.
If you’ve read Russell before, you know he has a way of weaving introspection into the ridiculous, and this story is no exception. There were two lines that really stuck with me:
1. “Everything is forgiven. And nothing else, nothing else matters.
2. “I leave you with Earth’s holiest blessing: good luck.”
What i really liked about it is that it doesn’t end in some grand, over-the-top moment. Instead, it ends quietly with a message of hope, a message of renewal. A message about trying to do better. Not just for yourself, but for the people around you too. It’s hard to put into words, but it really good highly recommend a read.
If you’ve read Russell before, you know he has a way of weaving introspection into the ridiculous, and this story is no exception. There were two lines that really stuck with me:
1. “Everything is forgiven. And nothing else, nothing else matters.
2. “I leave you with Earth’s holiest blessing: good luck.”
What i really liked about it is that it doesn’t end in some grand, over-the-top moment. Instead, it ends quietly with a message of hope, a message of renewal. A message about trying to do better. Not just for yourself, but for the people around you too. It’s hard to put into words, but it really good highly recommend a read.
September 6, 2025
What a sweet (graphic) novel.
Unfamiliar with the artist, I am now a fan of his, as well as writer Russell. The art shifts tone in appropriate ways, for flashbacks, moods, and moments. In some moments, the rendering almost reminds me of our man Rick Geary - in a good way, just reminiscent. Though one generation in the future, there is a tone of nostalgia in the narrator, and that, I guess, is what I see in the art.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Fulton County Public Library for the loan, and to Ablaze Publishing for this fine book from these fine creators.
Unfamiliar with the artist, I am now a fan of his, as well as writer Russell. The art shifts tone in appropriate ways, for flashbacks, moods, and moments. In some moments, the rendering almost reminds me of our man Rick Geary - in a good way, just reminiscent. Though one generation in the future, there is a tone of nostalgia in the narrator, and that, I guess, is what I see in the art.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Fulton County Public Library for the loan, and to Ablaze Publishing for this fine book from these fine creators.
October 3, 2024
Was surprised and delighted by the meditative nature of this graphic novel. Roy, a former pet shop worker, has been selected by Eazy Beef to travel to Mars to claim it for the company, because gas has been discovered there. Earth is falling apart, and whoever gets to Mars first wins…. something (maybe nothing really, ultimately, since Earth is falling apart). Eazy Beef has persuaded Roy that he’s the ideal candidate for the mission as he’s dying anyway. The whole novel is Roy meditating on his life, from his childhood in church to his failed marriage, and he realises as he moves further and further away from Earth what really mattered in his life.
Again, surprisingly delightful, even if it’s a sad story on the surface. And it’s beautifully drawn. Thank you to Ablaze and Edelweiss for early access.
Again, surprisingly delightful, even if it’s a sad story on the surface. And it’s beautifully drawn. Thank you to Ablaze and Edelweiss for early access.
July 5, 2025
"Dr. Rubens once told me that the hardest thing for the human mind to comprehend is its own non-existence. But it's less difficult to imagine it in space. Surrounded by the constant reminder that the default state of all things... is nothingness."
"Perhaps this is the impulse behind every flag, religion, and institution we ever created. Maybe it's all just calling out into the darkness for other particles to join us. To somehow make sense of all the empty space."
If you're looking for a comic series written for a more mature audience, one that makes you stop and think about your place in the universe, one that dives into deep conversations about life, death, and the value of a person's experiences, all while having heartfelt characters and beautiful artwork... Then congratulations. You found it. This is it.
Reading this series, there were moments when I sat smiling in silence at a page, overwhelmed with simple joy. And there were other moments where I couldn't read because my eyes were full of tears and my heart hurt. It sounds cheesy, I know, but I genuinely cried over a comic about a dying man going to claim land on Mars in the name of a vegan meat corporation.
There are also cute robot characters in the form of Mars rovers, who are learning what it means to be human alongside our hero. They were actually my favorite characters, and I wish we'd gotten to see more of them.
"Perhaps this is the impulse behind every flag, religion, and institution we ever created. Maybe it's all just calling out into the darkness for other particles to join us. To somehow make sense of all the empty space."
If you're looking for a comic series written for a more mature audience, one that makes you stop and think about your place in the universe, one that dives into deep conversations about life, death, and the value of a person's experiences, all while having heartfelt characters and beautiful artwork... Then congratulations. You found it. This is it.
Reading this series, there were moments when I sat smiling in silence at a page, overwhelmed with simple joy. And there were other moments where I couldn't read because my eyes were full of tears and my heart hurt. It sounds cheesy, I know, but I genuinely cried over a comic about a dying man going to claim land on Mars in the name of a vegan meat corporation.
There are also cute robot characters in the form of Mars rovers, who are learning what it means to be human alongside our hero. They were actually my favorite characters, and I wish we'd gotten to see more of them.
January 8, 2025
Depressingly bleak with a few poignant moments. One wonders, given Roy's essentially self-applied status as a loser, if perhaps Roy's outlook is bleaker than the reality of his world suggests. In a world of 7+ billion, you have to have someone looking for sustainable solutions and approaching problems with a cooler head.
Also, being lied to by an AI--something we'll have to worry about in the near future.
Also, being lied to by an AI--something we'll have to worry about in the near future.
January 25, 2025
Spíše cesta do nitra umírajícího na rakovinu než na Mars. Livingston je co možná nejobyčejnější chlápek, který se dostal do role nejdůležitějšího člověka právě pro svou postradatelnost. Cesta prostá zásadních problémů má své nejzásadnější momenty velmi obyčejné a realistické. Krutě realistické. Skvělé podání, cynický komentář lemuje celé vyprávění. Přesto nechybí emoce a skvělá pointa.
February 1, 2025
Mark Russell has a gift for finding the humor in the things that infuriate us, a sense of peace in the face of hopelessness, and a wistful beauty in the depths of despair.
I was not ready to read a story about the short life remaining to a person with terminal cancer. But I trusted him to bring me through with honesty and grace, and he did.
I was not ready to read a story about the short life remaining to a person with terminal cancer. But I trusted him to bring me through with honesty and grace, and he did.
June 25, 2025
Don't expect much space travel sci-fi; this is a story about philosophy, faith, and meaning in life. And it's brilliant. Loved the art too; it fits perfectly with the bleak, barren feel of the voids of both life and deep space travel.
Read this in one sitting, audibly gasping a few times and trying not to cry more than once. Impressive.b
Read this in one sitting, audibly gasping a few times and trying not to cry more than once. Impressive.b
May 29, 2024
Kind of like Don’t Look Up meets The Martian and Eternal Sunshine. Slightly less satirical and more reflective than Russell’s other work.
A little bit long and bleak in parts but ultimately a very powerful and affecting story.
A little bit long and bleak in parts but ultimately a very powerful and affecting story.
June 3, 2024
I read the issues individually and this 11 issue volume is one you want to own. It's like the writer took all his most beautiful thoughts and ideas about life then added them into story.
Which is so different then being given a story and trying to incorporate one's own morals into it.
Which is so different then being given a story and trying to incorporate one's own morals into it.
July 9, 2024
2/5 Stars
Individual issues rated below -
Issue #1: 2/5
Issue#2: 2.5/5
Issue#3: 3/5
Issue#4: 3.5/5
Issue#5: 2/5
Issue#6: 3/5
Issue#7: 2.5/5
Issue#8: 2/5
Issue#9: 2/5
Issue#10: 1.5/5
Issue#11: 3/5
Individual issues rated below -
Issue #1: 2/5
Issue#2: 2.5/5
Issue#3: 3/5
Issue#4: 3.5/5
Issue#5: 2/5
Issue#6: 3/5
Issue#7: 2.5/5
Issue#8: 2/5
Issue#9: 2/5
Issue#10: 1.5/5
Issue#11: 3/5
May 20, 2025
I've really enjoyed Mark Russell's work in the past, but this was even more enjoyable and thought provoking than I expected. A really wonderful story about life, love, and regret that I highly recommend.
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