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Southern Cross
Southern Cross, Vol. 1
Now boarding: Southern Cross, tanker flight 73 to Titan. Alex Braith is tracing her sister's steps to the refinery moon, hoping to collect her remains and find some answers. The questions keep coming though-and they lead her down a path of intrigue, betrayal, and galactic horror.
Collectong: Southern Cross 1-6
Collectong: Southern Cross 1-6
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2015
12 people are currently reading
1290 people want to read
About the author
Becky Cloonan
523 books396 followersBecky Cloonan is an American comic book creator, known for work published by Tokyopop and Vertigo. In 2012 she became the first female artist to draw the main Batman title for DC Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
May 7, 2024
a dank and grimy scifi murder mystery, with heaps of Lovecraftian horror; a familiar but successful hybrid of Alien and Event Horizon. Cloonan does a great job with her protagonist, a prickly and standoffish ex-con out to solve the mystery of her sister's death. Alex Braith is sympathetic, but only slightly. she comes across as distinctly unlikeable (and a bad sister to boot), but she's still head and shoulders above the rest of the untrustworthy, double-talking crew and passengers of the Titan-bound space rig The Southern Cross. the story becomes pretty hallucinatory the closer the ship gets to the other-dimensional threat, but the narrative remains taut and focused.
I quite liked Andy Belanger's art, which makes the interior of the ship feel gloomily subterranean. his characters are drawn well; I particularly enjoyed the ship Captain, who looks like a saturnine cro-magnon with a surprisingly hip haircut hidden under his cap. Belanger's increasing use of triangles to signal otherworldly incursions was also very well done. triangles are surely the eeriest and most threatening of all the shapes!
I don't know if I will be continuing with the series, but I enjoyed what I've read so far.
I quite liked Andy Belanger's art, which makes the interior of the ship feel gloomily subterranean. his characters are drawn well; I particularly enjoyed the ship Captain, who looks like a saturnine cro-magnon with a surprisingly hip haircut hidden under his cap. Belanger's increasing use of triangles to signal otherworldly incursions was also very well done. triangles are surely the eeriest and most threatening of all the shapes!
I don't know if I will be continuing with the series, but I enjoyed what I've read so far.
January 30, 2016
Mining’s a tough gig - especially on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons! But Amber Braith didn’t die in a mining accident - she was an administrator. How did Amber die? Her sister, Alex, sets out on the space tanker Southern Cross to claim her sister’s remains and find out for herself what happened.
Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger’s new series Southern Cross is a brilliant sci-fi horror murder mystery. Obviously it’s set in the future or an alternate timeline where humans have mastered space travel and begun mining celestial bodies for resources; yet at its core the comic has the flavour of an Agatha Christie or Patricia Highsmith novel. The Southern Cross’s design is similar to real oil tankers mixed with elements of a cruise ship so it feels like a murder mystery on an ocean liner-type story!
Alex shares a room with an annoying young woman with a secret - who then disappears. Could it have something to do with her sister? And then she discovers a man was murdered in her room during the last voyage - and the murderer was never caught! Cloonan ratchets up the tension by slowly releasing pieces of a larger story. Readers catch a glimpse of the captain’s scarred back, the first mate is nervous, the ship’s doctor is acting suspiciously - the paranoia builds up beautifully making for a deliciously unpredictable read.
Belanger’s art is excellent and I loved how he presents space travel as anything but smooth like we’re so used to seeing in movies and TV. Here, the Southern Cross barrels through the solar system chaotically, rings of fire surround the ship, its engines roaring, rocks flashing past. It weirdly makes space travel seem more relatable, like it’s just a really turbulent voyage on stormy seas – a very interesting perspective.
A lot of pages stand out visually, especially the trippier sequences, helped by Belanger’s creative layouts, and the work of colourist Lee Loughridge (Deadly Class) is a huge reason for that. His vibrant, unsettling and eye-catching choices for colouring space (and Loughridge’s space is wonderfully BRIGHT!) and the strange direction the series goes in towards the end makes the comic pop in such a spectacular way.
I had some minor issues with the story. Alex’s access to the captain at all times was a little too convenient (she’s just a passenger, he’s the captain – doesn’t he have work to be getting on with?!), as were what he had to say at key points in the plot. There’s also a pretty damning piece of video that happened to be lying around for an inquisitive protagonist like Alex to access! And Cloonan lets go of the reins completely by the end allowing the story to go very 2001-y which is related to my next point: there are too many questions left unanswered by the finale of the book to call this a totally satisfactory read. Then again this is volume one in a series so I’m sure we’ll start to get some answers in the next book - I’ll definitely be returning to find out what they are!
Southern Cross has the menacing atmosphere of classic space-set movies like 2001 and Alien blended with an almost traditional Poirot-type crime mystery and sprinkled with Stephen King-like moments of horror - it’s as heady a combination as it sounds! The story is a slow burn to start but rewards the patient reader as it gathers momentum for a bombastic finish. This is a splendid first volume in a very promising new series – I definitely recommend boarding the Southern Cross!
Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger’s new series Southern Cross is a brilliant sci-fi horror murder mystery. Obviously it’s set in the future or an alternate timeline where humans have mastered space travel and begun mining celestial bodies for resources; yet at its core the comic has the flavour of an Agatha Christie or Patricia Highsmith novel. The Southern Cross’s design is similar to real oil tankers mixed with elements of a cruise ship so it feels like a murder mystery on an ocean liner-type story!
Alex shares a room with an annoying young woman with a secret - who then disappears. Could it have something to do with her sister? And then she discovers a man was murdered in her room during the last voyage - and the murderer was never caught! Cloonan ratchets up the tension by slowly releasing pieces of a larger story. Readers catch a glimpse of the captain’s scarred back, the first mate is nervous, the ship’s doctor is acting suspiciously - the paranoia builds up beautifully making for a deliciously unpredictable read.
Belanger’s art is excellent and I loved how he presents space travel as anything but smooth like we’re so used to seeing in movies and TV. Here, the Southern Cross barrels through the solar system chaotically, rings of fire surround the ship, its engines roaring, rocks flashing past. It weirdly makes space travel seem more relatable, like it’s just a really turbulent voyage on stormy seas – a very interesting perspective.
A lot of pages stand out visually, especially the trippier sequences, helped by Belanger’s creative layouts, and the work of colourist Lee Loughridge (Deadly Class) is a huge reason for that. His vibrant, unsettling and eye-catching choices for colouring space (and Loughridge’s space is wonderfully BRIGHT!) and the strange direction the series goes in towards the end makes the comic pop in such a spectacular way.
I had some minor issues with the story. Alex’s access to the captain at all times was a little too convenient (she’s just a passenger, he’s the captain – doesn’t he have work to be getting on with?!), as were what he had to say at key points in the plot. There’s also a pretty damning piece of video that happened to be lying around for an inquisitive protagonist like Alex to access! And Cloonan lets go of the reins completely by the end allowing the story to go very 2001-y which is related to my next point: there are too many questions left unanswered by the finale of the book to call this a totally satisfactory read. Then again this is volume one in a series so I’m sure we’ll start to get some answers in the next book - I’ll definitely be returning to find out what they are!
Southern Cross has the menacing atmosphere of classic space-set movies like 2001 and Alien blended with an almost traditional Poirot-type crime mystery and sprinkled with Stephen King-like moments of horror - it’s as heady a combination as it sounds! The story is a slow burn to start but rewards the patient reader as it gathers momentum for a bombastic finish. This is a splendid first volume in a very promising new series – I definitely recommend boarding the Southern Cross!
July 27, 2021
I've been a fan of space horror ever since seeing Ridley Scott's Alien as a kid. There's just something about being trapped and isolated while millions of miles away from help that adds to the fear factor for me. Writer Becky Cloonan and artist Andy Belanger capture that feeling well, but with a heavy dose of Lovecraftian cosmic horror thrown into the mix.
It definitely helps that Cloonan is someone who knows horror, and not just movies (a lot of writers of horror comics today list only films as influences, sometimes with Stephen King thrown in). The slow evolution from Agatha Christie-style whodunnit to straight-up weird fiction is pulled off nicely. The artwork is stellar, really capturing the gloomy, claustrophobic feeling as well as the eerie frisson and awe that's necessary in cosmic horror. The use of triangles in the background throughout adds to the freakiness as well, somehow.
About the only negative I can think of is that the main character Alex Braith -- who's on a freighter to Titan in order to investigate the mysterious death of her sister -- wasn't very likable or relatable to me. Of course, this isn't always necessary for a good story, but it did make it harder for me to sympathize with her plight.
Still, the creepy, ominous atmosphere and excellent artwork more than make up for that, and I'm eager to check out more from Cloonan and Belanger.
4.0 Stars.
September 7, 2019
I was a little let-down after all the buzz this book received. It's a generic murder mystery set on a spaceship. The art was generic and the coloring drab and too dark.
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2024
When you hear something described as a murder mystery, you would expect something similar to Agatha Christie or authors like her. Becky Cloonan's "Southern Cross" has been described as such, but this is not a murder mystery on a spaceship. "Southern Cross" is a wonderful piece of weird fiction. A Lovecraftian horror that can be described as an "Event Horizon" clone with a mix of Clive Barker's "Hellraiser".
Alex is a woman with a troubled past on her way to Titan, on a ship called "Southern Cross", to collect the body of her dead sister and find out what happened to her. "Southern Cross" is a ship filled with shady characters, those of "don't ask, don' tell" sort and some of them have known her sister as she traveled back and forth with them. There is a gravity drive (Event Horizon... khm... khm...) which makes people hallucinate, there are apparitions of people dead or missing. There are ancient gods. What else to look for?
The writing is good, with some flaws that are there only so the plot can move on which could've been worked on. The art style is interesting for this genre, very good nonetheless which only gets better as the characters slip down the hallucinatory rabbit hole.
A great, tense atmosphere is also one of the things that is done properly and hooks you to read more.
Alex is a woman with a troubled past on her way to Titan, on a ship called "Southern Cross", to collect the body of her dead sister and find out what happened to her. "Southern Cross" is a ship filled with shady characters, those of "don't ask, don' tell" sort and some of them have known her sister as she traveled back and forth with them. There is a gravity drive (Event Horizon... khm... khm...) which makes people hallucinate, there are apparitions of people dead or missing. There are ancient gods. What else to look for?
The writing is good, with some flaws that are there only so the plot can move on which could've been worked on. The art style is interesting for this genre, very good nonetheless which only gets better as the characters slip down the hallucinatory rabbit hole.
A great, tense atmosphere is also one of the things that is done properly and hooks you to read more.
March 2, 2016
A solid opening volume in a new series. At its heart, Southern Cross is a murder mystery in a closed environment, and it's a solid mystery. New information is revealed at a gradual pace, just enough to keep the action moving without excessive infodump or long stretches without something new being added. Sure, there are a few moments that strain the suspension of disbelief: one key piece of evidence is a little too easy for the main character to get her hands on, and she has remarkably little trouble speaking to anyone she wants to whenever she wants to. But these are relatively minor things that don't stretch immersion too much for me.
The setting really makes the book for me. It's almost entirely set on a space freighter, and it really and truly does feel like a freighter. There's a certain level of grittiness applied that makes the whole thing feel more real, more relatable. This is not a super shiny ship with lots of smooth, white surfaces. It would look quite at home on Firefly or Battlestar Galactica, and that's a good thing. I have no problem with sleek, Star Trek style ships when they're meant to be advanced military, but I would expect a civilian vessel that primarily transports workers to be a bit scruffier.
Towards the end of the volume, the story takes a turn for the... let's go with abstract. 2001, or some of the weirder segments of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Honestly, it was kind of a let down. I was really enjoying the aggressive realism of the early parts of Southern Cross, and I could have done without the change in tone. But I'm over it. I do want to see where this is going, because sometimes the trippy stuff can lead to some really interesting ideas. I'm ready for the next volume.
The setting really makes the book for me. It's almost entirely set on a space freighter, and it really and truly does feel like a freighter. There's a certain level of grittiness applied that makes the whole thing feel more real, more relatable. This is not a super shiny ship with lots of smooth, white surfaces. It would look quite at home on Firefly or Battlestar Galactica, and that's a good thing. I have no problem with sleek, Star Trek style ships when they're meant to be advanced military, but I would expect a civilian vessel that primarily transports workers to be a bit scruffier.
Towards the end of the volume, the story takes a turn for the... let's go with abstract. 2001, or some of the weirder segments of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Honestly, it was kind of a let down. I was really enjoying the aggressive realism of the early parts of Southern Cross, and I could have done without the change in tone. But I'm over it. I do want to see where this is going, because sometimes the trippy stuff can lead to some really interesting ideas. I'm ready for the next volume.
February 14, 2016
Set aboard a giant space ship (rather than an ocean liner), this murder mystery is a bit on the generic side - and those fantastic turns towards the end don't really change that. Still, the main characters are engaging enough to raise it ever so slightly above average. 2.5 stars, I'd say.
June 7, 2017
★★1/2
This moody piece is a bit of cosmic horror and mystery set aboard a large passenger vessel on the way to the Saturn refinery moon Titan, where ex-con Alex Braith wants to find out the truth about her sister's suspicious death and ends up stumbling onto something terrifying aboard the Southern Cross. I enjoyed a lot of the atmosphere in this one and the way the cold artwork made the ship feel almost subterranean. I especially loved the creative panel work to show the geography of the ship and some cool imagery. The story itself wasn't as memorable as I hoped and the heavy first-person present narration is a pet peeve of mine. Especially in a comic book. I'd rather the makers show not tell. The constant "I wonder what's around this corner" or "What have I done?" type of narration tends to grate my nerves. See a sample of this below:
I might continue to see where this all goes but this first volume was disappointing.
This moody piece is a bit of cosmic horror and mystery set aboard a large passenger vessel on the way to the Saturn refinery moon Titan, where ex-con Alex Braith wants to find out the truth about her sister's suspicious death and ends up stumbling onto something terrifying aboard the Southern Cross. I enjoyed a lot of the atmosphere in this one and the way the cold artwork made the ship feel almost subterranean. I especially loved the creative panel work to show the geography of the ship and some cool imagery. The story itself wasn't as memorable as I hoped and the heavy first-person present narration is a pet peeve of mine. Especially in a comic book. I'd rather the makers show not tell. The constant "I wonder what's around this corner" or "What have I done?" type of narration tends to grate my nerves. See a sample of this below:
I might continue to see where this all goes but this first volume was disappointing.
January 16, 2016
Wow, one issue in and I'm hooked. Becky Cloonan's writing sucks you right in - from the very beginning. Some stories need a little time to get you interested. That's when I'm glad this is a volume and I won't have to wait for the second issue.
And that's when I realize this is a volume 1, meaning that it's not self-contained, dammit. That usually means a cliff-hanger. Ah, well, I'll enjoy the ride and look forward to volume 2.
I really like the art and the use of color.
And the story is so intense, I just turned (swiped) page after page. I love the characters, I love the story, I love the mystery.
And, yup. Dammit. Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT! I have to wait for volume 2.
If it's as good as this one, it will be with the wait.
In the meantime, I'll have to check out Cloonan's other stuff.
Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for a copy in return for an honest review.
And that's when I realize this is a volume 1, meaning that it's not self-contained, dammit. That usually means a cliff-hanger. Ah, well, I'll enjoy the ride and look forward to volume 2.
I really like the art and the use of color.
And the story is so intense, I just turned (swiped) page after page. I love the characters, I love the story, I love the mystery.
And, yup. Dammit. Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT! I have to wait for volume 2.
If it's as good as this one, it will be with the wait.
In the meantime, I'll have to check out Cloonan's other stuff.
Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for a copy in return for an honest review.
October 5, 2021
Becky Cloonan goes space noir, giving her protagonist a sci fi tough guy bluntness as she investigates weird occurrences on the spaceship taking her to the moon Titan to pick up her dead sister's remains. It aims for atmospheric and mysterious, but I found myself drifting off into space (and sleep) instead of engaging thrusters.
I already have the next volume checked out, and I was on the fence about plowing ahead despite my misgivings, but a little research turns up that it is not the conclusion of the story, and instead the series went on hiatus years ago somewhere in the middle of what would have been the third volume. Time to cut losses and abort mission.
I already have the next volume checked out, and I was on the fence about plowing ahead despite my misgivings, but a little research turns up that it is not the conclusion of the story, and instead the series went on hiatus years ago somewhere in the middle of what would have been the third volume. Time to cut losses and abort mission.
September 16, 2018
So recently I have really been into the sci-fi horror stuff.
Watching movies at home- Aliens, Doom, Ghosts of Mars, etc.
Went to the drive in tonight- Watched new Predator movie and The Meg.
Got home- Read this book.
Yeah, sci-fi horror is certainly fun.
What’s it about?
The main character is going to another planet to gather her dead sister’s remains… well, that and do criminal stuff. While on the spaceship her space room-mate goes missing but all her clothes are still there as if she just went poof and disappeared (Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good). So yeah, that becomes a mystery as a bunch of other weird shit starts happening!
Pros:
The story is pretty interesting.
I like the art. It’s sort of cartoony but still suits the mostly serious tone of the story.
This book is very unpredictable, I have no idea what is going to happen!
This is mostly a book with characters talking though there are still some good action scenes.
This book is very weird. I’m still not entirely sure what is happening though it still mostly makes sense.
The ending is great!
Cons:
The characters are not that interesting. They seem okay but when I started writing this review I noticed that I finished this book probably five minutes or so beforehand and can’t remember much about them. Hell, I don’t even remember the main character’s name.
So, in the final 2 issues there’s this random naked zombie-looking lady that shows up for no apparent reason and I really don’t like random shit just happening out of nowhere. Maybe it leads to something in volume 2. Perhaps, it’s meant to be a funny little “spot the naked zombie lady” game within the book. It just seems too random and like Cloonan suddenly said “I’m gonna throw in some random wacky shit that has nothing to do with anything” to me. Don’t get me wrong, I like weird but this makes no sense, I want it to still make sense (that and nobody wants to see zombie boobs… well, okay, someone probably does, definitely not me though).
Overall:
Fun book, plan on reading volume 2. Sort of reminds me of The Expanse (maybe a bit because I’m also currently reading book 1 in that series) because it’s not the same book, they are very different, but the tone is very similar and the stories share some similarities that make me think that fans of one are likely to enjoy the other. Even though it’s not a masterpiece or anything (at least, not this volume) it is good and readers of weird sci-fi stuff will like this.
4/5
Watching movies at home- Aliens, Doom, Ghosts of Mars, etc.
Went to the drive in tonight- Watched new Predator movie and The Meg.
Got home- Read this book.
Yeah, sci-fi horror is certainly fun.
What’s it about?
The main character is going to another planet to gather her dead sister’s remains… well, that and do criminal stuff. While on the spaceship her space room-mate goes missing but all her clothes are still there as if she just went poof and disappeared (Mr. Stark, I don’t feel so good). So yeah, that becomes a mystery as a bunch of other weird shit starts happening!
Pros:
The story is pretty interesting.
I like the art. It’s sort of cartoony but still suits the mostly serious tone of the story.
This book is very unpredictable, I have no idea what is going to happen!
This is mostly a book with characters talking though there are still some good action scenes.
This book is very weird. I’m still not entirely sure what is happening though it still mostly makes sense.
The ending is great!
Cons:
The characters are not that interesting. They seem okay but when I started writing this review I noticed that I finished this book probably five minutes or so beforehand and can’t remember much about them. Hell, I don’t even remember the main character’s name.
So, in the final 2 issues there’s this random naked zombie-looking lady that shows up for no apparent reason and I really don’t like random shit just happening out of nowhere. Maybe it leads to something in volume 2. Perhaps, it’s meant to be a funny little “spot the naked zombie lady” game within the book. It just seems too random and like Cloonan suddenly said “I’m gonna throw in some random wacky shit that has nothing to do with anything” to me. Don’t get me wrong, I like weird but this makes no sense, I want it to still make sense (that and nobody wants to see zombie boobs… well, okay, someone probably does, definitely not me though).
Overall:
Fun book, plan on reading volume 2. Sort of reminds me of The Expanse (maybe a bit because I’m also currently reading book 1 in that series) because it’s not the same book, they are very different, but the tone is very similar and the stories share some similarities that make me think that fans of one are likely to enjoy the other. Even though it’s not a masterpiece or anything (at least, not this volume) it is good and readers of weird sci-fi stuff will like this.
4/5
July 10, 2017
Fun story. Stand alone, I think. For people that like B-Movie Sci-Fi I would say.
August 22, 2020
You can't go wrong with space horror. You just can't.
January 3, 2022
✅ Read a horror graphic novel
Also space horror is amazing and I'm downloading the next in the series immediately
Also space horror is amazing and I'm downloading the next in the series immediately
February 15, 2016
Very solid Sci-fi Mystery story.
Artwork is okay, but it fits the story being told. The way the story carries out you want to see what happens next, and as this is an ongoing comic series it leaves you wanting to see what happens. Overall a solid book.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
Artwork is okay, but it fits the story being told. The way the story carries out you want to see what happens next, and as this is an ongoing comic series it leaves you wanting to see what happens. Overall a solid book.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
February 8, 2016
*Received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
This was one of those first volumes that didn't leave me with too much of an impression either way. It didn't wow me, but I didn't dislike it either. This series has a lot of potential and the second volume will be make or break for me. The art was stunning, however and I enjoy the "galactic horror" murder mystery thing going on.
This was one of those first volumes that didn't leave me with too much of an impression either way. It didn't wow me, but I didn't dislike it either. This series has a lot of potential and the second volume will be make or break for me. The art was stunning, however and I enjoy the "galactic horror" murder mystery thing going on.
February 4, 2022
This comic reads like a movie - a movie I would definitely watch. It combines elements from a number of different sources ('70s and '80s sci-fi manga aesthetics, weird mystery in space movies and a big Lovecraftian oomph reserved for the last pages), blending them very efficiently.
It is quite a thing to achieve a sense of endless space and claustrophobia at the same time, and the art serves the script to a tee.
Still, it is not a perfect comic, as characterization is often weird and makes you wonder if the dynamics on a spaceship - even a futuristic freighter - would work like this, and the elliptical storytelling does cause some confusion, especially concerning some conclusions that the characters draw. However, I am hoping these will be amended in the next volume(s).
In any event, the Southern Cross is a pretty sweet ride so far and I hope the rest of it will do justice to what the story hints at.
It is quite a thing to achieve a sense of endless space and claustrophobia at the same time, and the art serves the script to a tee.
Still, it is not a perfect comic, as characterization is often weird and makes you wonder if the dynamics on a spaceship - even a futuristic freighter - would work like this, and the elliptical storytelling does cause some confusion, especially concerning some conclusions that the characters draw. However, I am hoping these will be amended in the next volume(s).
In any event, the Southern Cross is a pretty sweet ride so far and I hope the rest of it will do justice to what the story hints at.
June 17, 2017
Guys.
Guys.
This is WEIRD. This is weird sci fi. I wish we had more time to marinate in the 'non weird' parts of this story, because it's a little harder to know for sure what we're supposed to see as 'not okay' and 'okay'.
This volume also feels very self contained - which is a nice change of pace, but also means there's not a burning cliffhanger, just a lingering WAT at the end.
If you like crazy weird sci fi mysteries, you'll probably enjoy that. There IS a bit of gore, as people get beaten up and murdered, but it's not nearly as bad as a horror comic.
Guys.
This is WEIRD. This is weird sci fi. I wish we had more time to marinate in the 'non weird' parts of this story, because it's a little harder to know for sure what we're supposed to see as 'not okay' and 'okay'.
This volume also feels very self contained - which is a nice change of pace, but also means there's not a burning cliffhanger, just a lingering WAT at the end.
If you like crazy weird sci fi mysteries, you'll probably enjoy that. There IS a bit of gore, as people get beaten up and murdered, but it's not nearly as bad as a horror comic.
March 10, 2016
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this one. Murder mystery, space travel, malfunctioning gravitronic engines, artifact smuggling, and alien invasion make for a pretty smart story and a fairly complex plot.
Artwork was just so-so, unfortunately, but I will definitely be looking for the next volume in this series.
I enjoyed this one. Murder mystery, space travel, malfunctioning gravitronic engines, artifact smuggling, and alien invasion make for a pretty smart story and a fairly complex plot.
Artwork was just so-so, unfortunately, but I will definitely be looking for the next volume in this series.
January 24, 2016
4.5
Beautiful art and paneling for the most part, I love the dystopian sci-fi setting. Has a slight Dead Space/Metroid feel. All in all it's a great, kinda grungy, sci-fi mystery romp.
Will be continuing
Beautiful art and paneling for the most part, I love the dystopian sci-fi setting. Has a slight Dead Space/Metroid feel. All in all it's a great, kinda grungy, sci-fi mystery romp.
Will be continuing
July 2, 2020
fuuuuuuuuuuuck
December 12, 2019
Southern Cross sem mel uz nejakej patek v merku, hlavni diky obalkam Becky Cloonan, ktera patri mezi moje oblibeny kreslire. Interior art ma na starosti Andy Belanger, coz je trochu skoda, protoze Becky, ktera serii pise, by byla pro me lepsi.
Sci-fi thriller se odehrava na palube dopravni lodi, ktera cestuje na Titan a hlavni hrdinkou je Alex, ktera na Titan leti vyzvednout pozustalosti po zemrele sestre a taky dostat par odpovedi, protoze nad smrti jeji sestry visi spoustu otazniku.
Cesta je od zacatku plna podivnejch udalosti - zmizela spolucestujici, creepy chlapek od naproti, zvlastni chovani posadky...
Priznam se, ze mi to uplne nesedlo, ale uvidime, co prinese druhej book.
Sci-fi thriller se odehrava na palube dopravni lodi, ktera cestuje na Titan a hlavni hrdinkou je Alex, ktera na Titan leti vyzvednout pozustalosti po zemrele sestre a taky dostat par odpovedi, protoze nad smrti jeji sestry visi spoustu otazniku.
Cesta je od zacatku plna podivnejch udalosti - zmizela spolucestujici, creepy chlapek od naproti, zvlastni chovani posadky...
Priznam se, ze mi to uplne nesedlo, ale uvidime, co prinese druhej book.
November 28, 2016
What appears to be a murder mystery set on a massive transport ship en route to Titan devolves into madness as something out there tries to break through using the ship and its enhabitants as the key. The story had a lot of cross over with the movie "Event Horizon," even if the specifics are different.
The art was really evocative, from the meanderings through the ship to the psychadelic explosions of time and space, worth a look for that at the minimum.
The art was really evocative, from the meanderings through the ship to the psychadelic explosions of time and space, worth a look for that at the minimum.
July 4, 2020
No tak toto bolo prinajlepšom 2* pokus o dobré sci-fi. Celú dobu som nemala poriadne šajn, o čo tam ide a postavy mi liezli na nervy viac než si dokážem priznať. Stále však dám šancu druhému booku, v ktorom toho dúfam bude viac vysvetlené.. Kresba nie je nič dychberúce, ale úplne špatná nie je tiež. Miestami mi vadili výrazy postáv ale to je len moja osobná nenávisť k tomu, keď oči tvoria takmer polku ksichtu.
August 31, 2019
Loved the artwork, level of detail, and the colour scheme. However there were some pacing issues in this volume, with everything feeling too rushed in the last issue.
Gritty, dark sci-fi mystery so if that’s your jam, definitely check it out!
Gritty, dark sci-fi mystery so if that’s your jam, definitely check it out!
November 2, 2017
I really enjoyed both the writing and especially the art of this book
even though all the characters used too much eyeliner. lol.
even though all the characters used too much eyeliner. lol.
June 2, 2016
Actual Rating: 2.5*
I thought this one was fairly interesting but it missed some marks for me and left me rereading pages and panels to see what I missed -- and how. I felt like most of my time reading this one left me with more questions rather than answers but not in a good way. I felt like it was almost trying to hard to be clever and including things that weren't relevant to keep us "hooked" but rather left me disconnected from the story.
I thought the art was difficult and at times I wasn't sure which female character was which because they all kinda looked the same. I thought some of the layouts were difficult to follow and I found myself having to reread pages to figure out which order they were in and what that meant for the story.
As well, it was super convenient that all these people Alex needed access to were readily available. She was a lowly passenger and she could barge in on the Captain at any time? And he let her down to visit the engines? Doesn't that seem strange? Plus, the plot seemed to be all over the place: it has an air of mystery but there is also aliens, gangs, and lots of unexplained hallucinations that don't really make sense.
Instead of hooking me in for the long run, this one has turned me off. I will most likely not be continuing with the series.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
I thought this one was fairly interesting but it missed some marks for me and left me rereading pages and panels to see what I missed -- and how. I felt like most of my time reading this one left me with more questions rather than answers but not in a good way. I felt like it was almost trying to hard to be clever and including things that weren't relevant to keep us "hooked" but rather left me disconnected from the story.
I thought the art was difficult and at times I wasn't sure which female character was which because they all kinda looked the same. I thought some of the layouts were difficult to follow and I found myself having to reread pages to figure out which order they were in and what that meant for the story.
As well, it was super convenient that all these people Alex needed access to were readily available. She was a lowly passenger and she could barge in on the Captain at any time? And he let her down to visit the engines? Doesn't that seem strange? Plus, the plot seemed to be all over the place: it has an air of mystery but there is also aliens, gangs, and lots of unexplained hallucinations that don't really make sense.
Instead of hooking me in for the long run, this one has turned me off. I will most likely not be continuing with the series.
Books and Ladders | Queen of the Bookshelves | Books Are My Fandom | Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'
October 4, 2017
Southern Cross is a book designed to disorientate. The art constantly crosses and cricumvents itself leading the reader back and forth across the page as the protagonist winds her way through the warrens of tunnels and halls that make up the titular ship. Bold colour schemes change radically from page to page. Sterile blue tones give way to sickening greens and yellows so abruptly as to never allow the reader to get their bearings. Not since House of Leaves has the simple process of reading a book felt so much like navigating a maze. It's a remarkably effective way of putting the reader in the same state of mind as protagonist Alex Braith as she searches the industrial nightmare of the Southern Cross for clues of her sisters death.
It's a moody murder mystery that leans into Lovecraftian cosmic horror as the story unfolds. It's in pursuing this second ambition however that things start to fall apart. As the book starts wrapping up characters begin dropping exposition out of nowhere and it becomes clear that the story lurking beneath the surreal imagery and inventive storytelling is fairly predictable. Fans of 2001 or even the video game franchise Dead Space will be ticking off story beats and dialogue from their cosmic horror bingo cards with startling regularity as the story reaches it's conclusion.
It's disappointing to have the plot lose focus and flail into hackneyed territory even as the execution continues to be experimental and engaging right up to the obligatory sequel hook.
It's a moody murder mystery that leans into Lovecraftian cosmic horror as the story unfolds. It's in pursuing this second ambition however that things start to fall apart. As the book starts wrapping up characters begin dropping exposition out of nowhere and it becomes clear that the story lurking beneath the surreal imagery and inventive storytelling is fairly predictable. Fans of 2001 or even the video game franchise Dead Space will be ticking off story beats and dialogue from their cosmic horror bingo cards with startling regularity as the story reaches it's conclusion.
It's disappointing to have the plot lose focus and flail into hackneyed territory even as the execution continues to be experimental and engaging right up to the obligatory sequel hook.
February 4, 2017
Uma surpresa intrigante, num mundo ficcional de ficção científica fortemente reminiscente de Alien. Uma jovem viaja até Titã para investigar a morte da irmã, funcionária de uma mina de metano nos oceanos da lua. A viajem é feita na Southern Cross, nave que faz o percurso regular entre Terra e Titã. Durante a viajem, descobre que a morte da irmã é a chave de muitos mistérios que se sobrepõem, entre grupos criminosos, estranhos artefactos alienígenas e um motor gravitacional que parece invocar criaturas do além e se revela capaz de abrir um portal para outras dimensões.
Misto equilibrado de FC pura com terror, este livro distingue-se pela claustrofobia da sua ilustração. Este não é o futuro luminoso das utopias, antes um mundo degradado de operariado sem esperança. A nave em si parece ter sido montada a partir de um petroleiro, adaptado dos mares para as vias espaciais. É toda uma estética de ferrugem e metal, de espaços confinados povoados por personagens com histórias violentas.
Misto equilibrado de FC pura com terror, este livro distingue-se pela claustrofobia da sua ilustração. Este não é o futuro luminoso das utopias, antes um mundo degradado de operariado sem esperança. A nave em si parece ter sido montada a partir de um petroleiro, adaptado dos mares para as vias espaciais. É toda uma estética de ferrugem e metal, de espaços confinados povoados por personagens com histórias violentas.
December 31, 2018
If you hand me a book of competent--or even only almost competent--space horror, I will take it, I will read it, and I will like it, and I will ask for more.
What I'm saying is I will forgive any kind of space horror--be it in book, movie, tv show, or serial-streaming-thing-on-netflix form--I will forgive it lots of things that I would take works in other genres to task for.
That's not to say there's anything to forgive in Southern Cross, just that I'm not the one to ask. You can't trust my opinion when it comes to space horror when I don't even trust myself.
Space horror + Anton's critical faculties = nonsense brain scramble.
It's just so damn good as a genre! Space horror! Why isn't there more? There's never enough, so why be ungrateful to the stuff that's out there.
So Southern Cross is SPACE HORROR! Hell yeah. On to volume 2.
What I'm saying is I will forgive any kind of space horror--be it in book, movie, tv show, or serial-streaming-thing-on-netflix form--I will forgive it lots of things that I would take works in other genres to task for.
That's not to say there's anything to forgive in Southern Cross, just that I'm not the one to ask. You can't trust my opinion when it comes to space horror when I don't even trust myself.
Space horror + Anton's critical faculties = nonsense brain scramble.
It's just so damn good as a genre! Space horror! Why isn't there more? There's never enough, so why be ungrateful to the stuff that's out there.
So Southern Cross is SPACE HORROR! Hell yeah. On to volume 2.
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