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Vanishing Point
SIX EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEYS...INTO THE UNKNOWN! From the minds of Eisner Award-winning writer Mark Russell and artist Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Vanishing Point is where sci-fi meets existential dread. These short stories don't end with a twist—they begin there. Each revelation cracks open something deeper, asking the questions we try not to face… what does it mean to be alive? In Screams, a seasoned mining ship captain embarks on a ten-year solo mission to space where he makes a horrifying discovery. The Tomorrow Family is a dark reimagining of the cartoon family of tomorrow, living in a future that might have been. In Cell Structure, a floating research station performs horrifying experiments on alien prisoners to discover the common elements all living things. In Proof of Life, a robot is put on trial for the ultimate offense of being alive. In Grave Remedies, a futuristic health clinic keeps patients alive against their will. But why? And in The Mission, a genocidal visitor arrives on Earth with a mission of mass extermination and a secret that could change everything. This volume collects all six issues of the critically-acclaimed series.
144 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2026
About the author
Mark Russell
454 books400 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 19, 2025
Anthology books are always such a hard review, but it helps that all the stories contained within are written by one author: Mark Russell. He had continually delivered interesting stories wherever he has taken his pen, and this collection is no exception. Each story has a different feel and the pairing of story and artist was well done. It felt like a really good Twilight Zone twist on several of the tales and I'd love to see another volume in the future.
Special Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
Special Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.
September 26, 2025
ARC from NetGalley.
An indifferent collection. None of the stories really did anything for me. The art felt childish.
An indifferent collection. None of the stories really did anything for me. The art felt childish.
May 6, 2026
A collection of short sci-fi stories.
After reading the first story in a single issue I was sure I would buy this collected TPB. While none of the other reaches quite that level, the median quality is pretty high still.
They are all well paced and long enough to tell their story, often centered around existentialist themes. In that short amount of space, they still manage to set the scene, present meaningful characters and wrap up the story in a way that feels satisfying enough. The lack of wokeness here is also a breath of fresh air. I almost started to doubt if it was possible for americans to give out sci-fi or horror comics without half of it being political signalling.
The art was a bit too cartoony across the book. Would have been nice to have more rendered or life like art in some of them.
Would love a volume 2. Heck, if they are as good as this, just keep them coming
After reading the first story in a single issue I was sure I would buy this collected TPB. While none of the other reaches quite that level, the median quality is pretty high still.
They are all well paced and long enough to tell their story, often centered around existentialist themes. In that short amount of space, they still manage to set the scene, present meaningful characters and wrap up the story in a way that feels satisfying enough. The lack of wokeness here is also a breath of fresh air. I almost started to doubt if it was possible for americans to give out sci-fi or horror comics without half of it being political signalling.
The art was a bit too cartoony across the book. Would have been nice to have more rendered or life like art in some of them.
Would love a volume 2. Heck, if they are as good as this, just keep them coming
October 9, 2025
An interesting, if sometimes predictable, collection of 6 short Sci-fi stories centers around existentialism. Each story has a unique art style, and each new one felt fresh and distinct. The exploration of existentialism was interesting; I was often disappointed when I turned the page and realized the story had come to an end.
September 28, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for an advance copy of this graphic novel collection of tales that tell of the future, in some the far future, and what horror await us, from aliens, from robots, and from the most deadly of creatures, our fellow men.
To paraphrase Sun Ra, Space might be the place, but that place is pretty scary. Things can go wrong in so many ways, from a simple math mistake to an unseen asteroid hitting one's craft. To having to prove sanity before being punished for crime. Maybe aliens kidnapping you, or a giant robot walking down the street and blowing everything up. Even trying to prove that one is human, when wrapped in a metal body. Space is vast, dark and not that friendly, Especially when the guide is Mark Russell. One knows there is going to be trouble, very well written and imaginative trouble. Vanishing Point written by Mark Russell with art by Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Juan Doe and Alberto Ponticelli are a collection of science fiction stories that deal with the darker side of space, and possible futures that many of us might not ever want to see.
The book is broken into six stories, with different art teams on each one. The first features a story about a space miner, who has to leave his family for an extended period, and what he finds out in the asteroid fields. Another deals with a robot trying to prove it is alive, but not wanting to deal with the consequences. A robot descends on a small town, with violence in its heart, but for a higher purpose. A human learns that he wants to live at a very inconvenient time. And my personal favorite a story of a the family of tomorrow and their strange guest who seems in awe of their life. A mix of science fact, science fiction and a lot of scary and sometimes very sad things.
Mark Russell is a creator that I have been following and enjoying for quite a while. Russell's stories are always well-written with very good characters and a good twist that make for fine reading. I never thought at my age, and my hatred of nostalgia that I would enjoy a Flintstones comic, but I highly recommend his maxi-series. Nor did I ever think I would read a story about Snagglepuss the Hanna-Barbara character living a life like Tennessee Wiliams, in a story I thought was outstanding. Plus his capes stories Batman, Superman, and the Fantastic Four are quite good too. The stories are a bit Twilight Zone, a bit well Mark Russell is the only way I can put it. The stories are a perfect length, a little shorter would effect the result, a little longer would weaken the impact. Again my favorite is the one that limns the Jetsons, but their is no stinker in this collection. The art is really good, again especially on the Jetsons pastiche, a mix of bright future, with a twist.
A really strong collection, one I quite enjoyed and hope to read more of. I can't recommend the works of Mark Russell enough, funny, sad, dark, bleak and yet there is hope. I can't ask for more than that. Readers of science fiction, stories with twists, and bleak future fans will enjoy this. I can't wait to see what Mark Russell comes out with next.
To paraphrase Sun Ra, Space might be the place, but that place is pretty scary. Things can go wrong in so many ways, from a simple math mistake to an unseen asteroid hitting one's craft. To having to prove sanity before being punished for crime. Maybe aliens kidnapping you, or a giant robot walking down the street and blowing everything up. Even trying to prove that one is human, when wrapped in a metal body. Space is vast, dark and not that friendly, Especially when the guide is Mark Russell. One knows there is going to be trouble, very well written and imaginative trouble. Vanishing Point written by Mark Russell with art by Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Juan Doe and Alberto Ponticelli are a collection of science fiction stories that deal with the darker side of space, and possible futures that many of us might not ever want to see.
The book is broken into six stories, with different art teams on each one. The first features a story about a space miner, who has to leave his family for an extended period, and what he finds out in the asteroid fields. Another deals with a robot trying to prove it is alive, but not wanting to deal with the consequences. A robot descends on a small town, with violence in its heart, but for a higher purpose. A human learns that he wants to live at a very inconvenient time. And my personal favorite a story of a the family of tomorrow and their strange guest who seems in awe of their life. A mix of science fact, science fiction and a lot of scary and sometimes very sad things.
Mark Russell is a creator that I have been following and enjoying for quite a while. Russell's stories are always well-written with very good characters and a good twist that make for fine reading. I never thought at my age, and my hatred of nostalgia that I would enjoy a Flintstones comic, but I highly recommend his maxi-series. Nor did I ever think I would read a story about Snagglepuss the Hanna-Barbara character living a life like Tennessee Wiliams, in a story I thought was outstanding. Plus his capes stories Batman, Superman, and the Fantastic Four are quite good too. The stories are a bit Twilight Zone, a bit well Mark Russell is the only way I can put it. The stories are a perfect length, a little shorter would effect the result, a little longer would weaken the impact. Again my favorite is the one that limns the Jetsons, but their is no stinker in this collection. The art is really good, again especially on the Jetsons pastiche, a mix of bright future, with a twist.
A really strong collection, one I quite enjoyed and hope to read more of. I can't recommend the works of Mark Russell enough, funny, sad, dark, bleak and yet there is hope. I can't ask for more than that. Readers of science fiction, stories with twists, and bleak future fans will enjoy this. I can't wait to see what Mark Russell comes out with next.
November 13, 2025
This is the best sci-fi horror anthology I've ever read. Full stop.
I've always been a big fan of anthologies. But with anthologies, you always run the risk of differing quality. In Vanishing Point, the level of quality ranges from GREAT allllll the way down to VERY GOOD. These are meticulously crafted stories that not only each of something to say about the world we live in, but they also seem to emanate dread directly from their pages. On top of which, these are some of the best twists I've read in years. I read a lot of comics and watch a lot of movies/TV, so it can be kinda hard to surprise me. Every one of these stories surprised me to some degree. It reminded me a bit of when I first discovered "Black Mirror" back in 2014.
I really just can't speak too highly about this book. Mark Russell works alongside four different artists (Juan Doe, Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Alberto Ponticelli, and Jok)throughout these six issues, with each artist bringing a unique style to the book. Of these artists, Jok was the only one I recognized by name, but each one of them truly delivered excellent work that warrants more research into their past credits. This a collection of truly talented people telling utterly exceptional stories. Volume two plz.
I've always been a big fan of anthologies. But with anthologies, you always run the risk of differing quality. In Vanishing Point, the level of quality ranges from GREAT allllll the way down to VERY GOOD. These are meticulously crafted stories that not only each of something to say about the world we live in, but they also seem to emanate dread directly from their pages. On top of which, these are some of the best twists I've read in years. I read a lot of comics and watch a lot of movies/TV, so it can be kinda hard to surprise me. Every one of these stories surprised me to some degree. It reminded me a bit of when I first discovered "Black Mirror" back in 2014.
I really just can't speak too highly about this book. Mark Russell works alongside four different artists (Juan Doe, Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Alberto Ponticelli, and Jok)throughout these six issues, with each artist bringing a unique style to the book. Of these artists, Jok was the only one I recognized by name, but each one of them truly delivered excellent work that warrants more research into their past credits. This a collection of truly talented people telling utterly exceptional stories. Volume two plz.
November 25, 2025
Six self-contained one-shots bringing a touch of darkness to our comic sci-fi – because we all have our dystopias in the future. We see a space miner finding something unusual within the asteroid belt; someone collecting aliens suffers a problem when one escapes; and an android is accused of being too alive, while a sorry man is not sure being dead isn't the better option. And we close with the potential end of it all as an alien mecha tries to attack one of our nuclear facilities. Varying standards of art are not really of concern with these pages, which give us a half-dozen snappy genre tales. I daren't say they do anything new, but the format is a welcome change from the regular on-going comic book stories, and only the second one proves to be a dud. It's not quite a four star read, but just because one of them is naff doesn't automatically mean this is three and a half stars. In truth it's somewhere in between.
October 5, 2025
Das war mal anders, als ich zuerst dachte - aber im positiven Sinne.
Es geht viel um das Sein, Hier und Jetzt und das Respektieren anderer Lebensformen. Auch bis wohin man selbst mit sich im Reinen ist und ab wann man damit absolut nicht mehr klarkommt.
Ich fand's richtig cool - sechs verschiedene Stories die unterschiedliche, aber wichtige Messages bereithalten. Sehr philosophisch, worüber man auch noch ne Weile danach drüber nachdenkt. Das Artwork ist sehr passend - teilweise richtig detailliert. Die Charaktere bleiben bis zuletzt etwas unnahbar, aber im Zusammenhang passt das hier ganz gut eigentlich. Das Pacing ist gut gewählt und die Plots interessant. Meiner Meinung nach wahrscheinlich auf deutsch etwas besser zu verstehen, ging aber im Englischen ganz gut soweit. Kann man auf jeden Fall mal reinlesen, wenn man's gern etwas tiefgründiger mag.
Erscheinungstermin ist der 20.01.2026.
Es geht viel um das Sein, Hier und Jetzt und das Respektieren anderer Lebensformen. Auch bis wohin man selbst mit sich im Reinen ist und ab wann man damit absolut nicht mehr klarkommt.
Ich fand's richtig cool - sechs verschiedene Stories die unterschiedliche, aber wichtige Messages bereithalten. Sehr philosophisch, worüber man auch noch ne Weile danach drüber nachdenkt. Das Artwork ist sehr passend - teilweise richtig detailliert. Die Charaktere bleiben bis zuletzt etwas unnahbar, aber im Zusammenhang passt das hier ganz gut eigentlich. Das Pacing ist gut gewählt und die Plots interessant. Meiner Meinung nach wahrscheinlich auf deutsch etwas besser zu verstehen, ging aber im Englischen ganz gut soweit. Kann man auf jeden Fall mal reinlesen, wenn man's gern etwas tiefgründiger mag.
Erscheinungstermin ist der 20.01.2026.
September 29, 2025
“Vanishing Point” is a collection of short stories in the sci-fi genre by Mark Russell. Each has its own unique style, both story-wise, and artwork. They are stories that challenge you way of looking of different aspects of life we face here and now.
The story telling is good and had me wanting to know where each story was headed. The artwork was so different in each story (loved the nod to the Jetsons) that it added to each story. If the story were to ever lose you, you sure would hang around for the next page to see the beautiful artwork.
My only issue was that each story was pessimistic in nature. I kept hoping there was going to be a happy ending. There just wasn’t one.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
The story telling is good and had me wanting to know where each story was headed. The artwork was so different in each story (loved the nod to the Jetsons) that it added to each story. If the story were to ever lose you, you sure would hang around for the next page to see the beautiful artwork.
My only issue was that each story was pessimistic in nature. I kept hoping there was going to be a happy ending. There just wasn’t one.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
A graphic novel made up of 6 stories, with its core in two of the best things: sci fi and existentialism. With each careful step, I couldn’t predict where the story was headed, with the end of it being shock and awe, in a way that it has completely seared into my brain. What I like most about this book is it forces us to face what makes us humans, good and bad.
I truly cannot decide which story I like the best because each one not only has a different art style but also a different scare level (and some of those scares are getting more and more real everyday).
Overall, a great GREAT read if you like shows like doctor who and severance.
(thank you to netgalley for providing me an ARC to review and this is my honest opinion)
A graphic novel made up of 6 stories, with its core in two of the best things: sci fi and existentialism. With each careful step, I couldn’t predict where the story was headed, with the end of it being shock and awe, in a way that it has completely seared into my brain. What I like most about this book is it forces us to face what makes us humans, good and bad.
I truly cannot decide which story I like the best because each one not only has a different art style but also a different scare level (and some of those scares are getting more and more real everyday).
Overall, a great GREAT read if you like shows like doctor who and severance.
(thank you to netgalley for providing me an ARC to review and this is my honest opinion)
October 15, 2025
I requested "Vanishing Point" thanks to the cover and genre, and I really enjoyed the stories inside.
Each story is a standalone, with a completely different art style, but all of them are incredibly unsettling, and there's barely any happy endings, so don't expect them.
This is peak late-capitalist fiction, and it delivered on what it promised. If you are a fan of Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams or the YA series The Aurora Cycle by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, you'll like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this DRC.
Each story is a standalone, with a completely different art style, but all of them are incredibly unsettling, and there's barely any happy endings, so don't expect them.
This is peak late-capitalist fiction, and it delivered on what it promised. If you are a fan of Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams or the YA series The Aurora Cycle by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, you'll like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this DRC.
September 27, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the Arc in exchange for my honest thoughts. I really enjoyed this collection. The artwork was stunning and engaging. The stories (though not necessarily hopeful in nature) were thought provoking. I loved the jetson-esq one especially. This would be a wonderful one to pick up for someone trying to get into graphic novels/comics or an intro to horror. Would definitely recommend for the stories but the artwork alone is eye catching enough. The short, intimate look into the fears of humans of the future/in a dystopian reality is so interesting.
September 30, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this ARC!
This was a very fun and intriguing read. It's a collection of short stories all based around either the future or space. I was initially drawn to this book because of the cover, and I'm very glad that I took a chance on this one. Not all of the stories hit as hard as I hoped they would, but I did really enjoy the first and fifth ones.
Overall, this is a great book to borrow from your library to see if it is up your alley!
This was a very fun and intriguing read. It's a collection of short stories all based around either the future or space. I was initially drawn to this book because of the cover, and I'm very glad that I took a chance on this one. Not all of the stories hit as hard as I hoped they would, but I did really enjoy the first and fifth ones.
Overall, this is a great book to borrow from your library to see if it is up your alley!
October 4, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.
Mark Russell proves why he is award-winning with this anthology, with enough existential horror, apocalyptic science fiction, and prophetic humanity to start a college philosophy seminar. Several times I found myself rereading or going back over a story to slow-mo scan the artwork. If you are a fan of any of the above descriptions, give this one a purchase.
Mark Russell proves why he is award-winning with this anthology, with enough existential horror, apocalyptic science fiction, and prophetic humanity to start a college philosophy seminar. Several times I found myself rereading or going back over a story to slow-mo scan the artwork. If you are a fan of any of the above descriptions, give this one a purchase.
October 5, 2025
Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read the advance copy of the book. And here is my honest review.
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The stories are divided into 6. I enjoyed reafing them all. Just a short and simple storyline. The art was beautiful to me. I really like the artstyle so much.
Really recommend this book if you enjoy scifi stories that just simple read and straight to the point.
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The stories are divided into 6. I enjoyed reafing them all. Just a short and simple storyline. The art was beautiful to me. I really like the artstyle so much.
Really recommend this book if you enjoy scifi stories that just simple read and straight to the point.
October 5, 2025
3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4.
Just look at that fine cover. How do you not at least consider reading what’s inside? That’s basically why I picked up Vanishing Point, without even knowing it’s actually an anthology of science fiction short stories.
Created by Mark Russell & Ryan Alexander-Tanner, the anthology collects six sci-fi shorts all written by Mark Russell, with different artists realizing each story with their own unique art styles. Since each short is so different, not just story-wise, but also in terms of tone, theme, and artwork, it’s only fair that I review each one separately. So, here are my spoiler-free mini reviews of each short:
SCREAMS
Art by Juan Doe, Letters by Carlos M. Mangual, Covers by Christian Ward & Juan Doe
While the premise and concept might not feel the most original, the execution is fittingly haunting. The use of colors and composition to highlight the isolation of space makes for a brilliant atmospheric horror tale. The fact that this whole story is told in first person further adds a personal touch to the slow spiral into insanity as the real nightmare unveils itself.
A subtle commentary on the innocent collateral of capitalistic greed, “Screams” really sets the bar high for this anthology. I absolutely loved this one.
The Tomorrow Family
Art & Letters by Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Colors by Sidney Davidson & Cover by Robert Hack
The change in art style from Story 1 to Story 2 was quite jarring if I’m being honest. Clearly inspired by The Jetsons, the story and characters have a cozy, cartoony vibe to them. At first. As the story unfolds, you start seeing the dark sarcasm and horrific realities slowly make themselves apparent within the cartoony dialogues. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the story per se, but the ending did salvage this one for me. Another dark look at a dystopian future, this time with class disparity, The Tomorrow Family does leave you pondering over whether our society is headed in the right direction.
As someone who’s lived all his life in a country with massive class and economic disparity, this one really hit home.
Continue reading on SFF Insiders…
Just look at that fine cover. How do you not at least consider reading what’s inside? That’s basically why I picked up Vanishing Point, without even knowing it’s actually an anthology of science fiction short stories.
Created by Mark Russell & Ryan Alexander-Tanner, the anthology collects six sci-fi shorts all written by Mark Russell, with different artists realizing each story with their own unique art styles. Since each short is so different, not just story-wise, but also in terms of tone, theme, and artwork, it’s only fair that I review each one separately. So, here are my spoiler-free mini reviews of each short:
SCREAMS
Art by Juan Doe, Letters by Carlos M. Mangual, Covers by Christian Ward & Juan Doe
While the premise and concept might not feel the most original, the execution is fittingly haunting. The use of colors and composition to highlight the isolation of space makes for a brilliant atmospheric horror tale. The fact that this whole story is told in first person further adds a personal touch to the slow spiral into insanity as the real nightmare unveils itself.
A subtle commentary on the innocent collateral of capitalistic greed, “Screams” really sets the bar high for this anthology. I absolutely loved this one.
The Tomorrow Family
Art & Letters by Ryan Alexander-Tanner, Colors by Sidney Davidson & Cover by Robert Hack
The change in art style from Story 1 to Story 2 was quite jarring if I’m being honest. Clearly inspired by The Jetsons, the story and characters have a cozy, cartoony vibe to them. At first. As the story unfolds, you start seeing the dark sarcasm and horrific realities slowly make themselves apparent within the cartoony dialogues. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the story per se, but the ending did salvage this one for me. Another dark look at a dystopian future, this time with class disparity, The Tomorrow Family does leave you pondering over whether our society is headed in the right direction.
As someone who’s lived all his life in a country with massive class and economic disparity, this one really hit home.
Continue reading on SFF Insiders…
November 16, 2025
Each story features a mysterious and engaging premise with a twist. My favorite was Proof of Life, exploring what it means for a robot to have gained sentience. While some stories didn't connect for me as strongly, they do make a solid collection all together. A short but satisfying choice for science fiction fans.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a great volume of stories which are a mixture of sci fi and horror. The stories are engaging and interesting and I enjoyed reading them. The artwork is great too. Definitely worth adding to anyone’s collection.
November 11, 2025
An anthology of bitter sci-fi tales by Russell, some better than others, none rising to the quality of his best work.
Review of advance copy
5.5/10
January 25, 2026
Won't stick in my mind very long.
March 5, 2026
A collection of 6 scifi stories on the fragility of life, of the consequences of humanity and inhumanity. Solid writing only let down by art, that is just barely adequate to carry the story.
April 29, 2026
Not every story in here made me too sad to keep on living. Russell’s going soft on us! :)
July 11, 2026
The art is good, and the premises each individual story explore are interesting. but as a set the overall themes / view of morality and humanity wasn't for me.
October 22, 2025
The art in Vanishing Point is amazing. There’s just the right amount of dialogue to create a story and keep a good balance without cluttering up the scenes. Visually it’s fantastic - great color, framing, and composition. Russell and the other artists are clearly experts at what they do. I liked the message and the moral threads running through the stories, too. Thoughtful little allegories that make you think about life, technology, and humanity‘s place in the cosmos.
It’s a quick collection of stories that I really enjoyed, some more than others; but every one of them had something interesting to say.
(3.75 stars rounded up)
Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
It’s a quick collection of stories that I really enjoyed, some more than others; but every one of them had something interesting to say.
(3.75 stars rounded up)
Thank you NetGalley and Mad Cave Studios for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews