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Black Science
Black Science, Vol. 4: Godworld
Following the catastrophic final jump of the Pillar, the last Dimensionaut is stranded in the furthest reaches of space, adrift on the wreckage of his former self. Before he can reclaim his mantle as protector of the Eververse, he must first overcome the demons that lurk within his own soul. Collects BLACK SCIENCE #17-21
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2016
21 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Rick Remender
1,253 books1,428 followersRick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
May 9, 2025
Grant McKay is not quite sure who he is, where he is, what he's meant to be doing etc. In a decidedly left-field turn in this now improving series we pick up things a while after the big betrayal.
Out and out, I'm liking this series more, because the art is getting cleaner and the story more linear, sadly the less complex the story the better the read for me in this series. Anyways the whole Pillar concept is a gem by itself. Three Stars' 7 out of 12.
2019 read
Out and out, I'm liking this series more, because the art is getting cleaner and the story more linear, sadly the less complex the story the better the read for me in this series. Anyways the whole Pillar concept is a gem by itself. Three Stars' 7 out of 12.
2019 read
May 2, 2016
This fourth volume of Black Science has blown the first three out of the water.
I first picked up #1 of this book due to the beautiful artwork and the fact that it felt like all the great pulp science fiction I grew up on... particularly Robert Heinlein and even more particularly The Number of the Beast.
The first three volumes scratched that itch and scratched it good! I really had no complaints about this comicbook series.
Volume 4, however, has taken things to a new level. It hasn't abandoned the pulp SF feel completely but it has made huge strides in another direction to the point where it is barely recognisable as the same book... and it's fucking awesome.
Volume 4, starts with the original cast irretrievably scattered to the corners of the universe and with Grant McKay taking a trip through the broken remnants of his fractured psyche. At one point, I was so caught up in this story I didn't realise I had tears pouring down my cheeks until my wife asked me what was wrong.
Now, I know a few people on my GR friends list are very much anti this book and I'm not trying to sell it to them. I'm well aware this book's not for everyone; no book is. If you've yet to try it, though, and you're a fan of old school pulp science fiction, why not give it a shot? I fucking love this book.
I first picked up #1 of this book due to the beautiful artwork and the fact that it felt like all the great pulp science fiction I grew up on... particularly Robert Heinlein and even more particularly The Number of the Beast.
The first three volumes scratched that itch and scratched it good! I really had no complaints about this comicbook series.
Volume 4, however, has taken things to a new level. It hasn't abandoned the pulp SF feel completely but it has made huge strides in another direction to the point where it is barely recognisable as the same book... and it's fucking awesome.
Volume 4, starts with the original cast irretrievably scattered to the corners of the universe and with Grant McKay taking a trip through the broken remnants of his fractured psyche. At one point, I was so caught up in this story I didn't realise I had tears pouring down my cheeks until my wife asked me what was wrong.
Now, I know a few people on my GR friends list are very much anti this book and I'm not trying to sell it to them. I'm well aware this book's not for everyone; no book is. If you've yet to try it, though, and you're a fan of old school pulp science fiction, why not give it a shot? I fucking love this book.
June 23, 2017
This book continues to fire on all cylinders and is the best of Remender's sci-fi comics. Matteo Scalero and Moreno Dinisio continue to make this book look like 20 pages of pulpy science fiction covers. Their art is fantastic.
After the events of the last volume, Grant has been stranded on Godworld for the last 3 years. We found out about Grant's childhood and why he is such an asshole at times. Once he gets his shit together, he tries to track down the rest of his team as the series shifts direction.
After the events of the last volume, Grant has been stranded on Godworld for the last 3 years. We found out about Grant's childhood and why he is such an asshole at times. Once he gets his shit together, he tries to track down the rest of his team as the series shifts direction.
May 26, 2016
The strongest arc of the series to date. (Though not a good jumping-on point to the series; you really have to be familiar with the series to appreciate the impact of this arc.)
June 4, 2016
First Black Science Volume to hit the three mark...
NOOOOOO!!!!!
Well it was bound to happen. I enjoy Black Science for what it is. I think it has broken characters and mixes them up very well. I also enjoy the art a lot, which is a surprise, because I usually hate art that tries too hard to be "too" different.
This volume is really about your past and accepting your future. Which for the most part, I love the idea. We all have secrets, scars, that form who we are today. We all live to be a better self of our past. So to see Grant's past, both childhood, and adult life, was interesting. I really enjoyed the second half, as getting closure on Rebecca was needed big time.
On the lower half of my ratings is the first half, which felt like a acid trip. I got Grant Morrison vibes, with drilling your mind with the same fucking thing and theme over and over again. As I've posted many times, Grant is usually a man with great ideas but shitty execution. This is what I felt reading first half of this volume. Neat idea, but done horribly. It should have been a single issue that was dragged nearly 3. I got the point by the first issue, sometimes less said the better.
Overall though I still dig this series for the sheer insanity that comes with it. It sounds like the next volume will kick this series back into high gear, which would make this "okay" volume fine as long as this is the weakest it'll go.
NOOOOOO!!!!!
Well it was bound to happen. I enjoy Black Science for what it is. I think it has broken characters and mixes them up very well. I also enjoy the art a lot, which is a surprise, because I usually hate art that tries too hard to be "too" different.
This volume is really about your past and accepting your future. Which for the most part, I love the idea. We all have secrets, scars, that form who we are today. We all live to be a better self of our past. So to see Grant's past, both childhood, and adult life, was interesting. I really enjoyed the second half, as getting closure on Rebecca was needed big time.
On the lower half of my ratings is the first half, which felt like a acid trip. I got Grant Morrison vibes, with drilling your mind with the same fucking thing and theme over and over again. As I've posted many times, Grant is usually a man with great ideas but shitty execution. This is what I felt reading first half of this volume. Neat idea, but done horribly. It should have been a single issue that was dragged nearly 3. I got the point by the first issue, sometimes less said the better.
Overall though I still dig this series for the sheer insanity that comes with it. It sounds like the next volume will kick this series back into high gear, which would make this "okay" volume fine as long as this is the weakest it'll go.
December 26, 2016
Bullet Review:
So. That happened. Lots of navel gazing and Grant coming to grips with his life and then being a prick to Rebecca because although he cheated on his wife, Rebecca is awful for dumping his sorry ass somewhere.
I don't think even Remender knows where this is going but as long as it brings in a check, he'll keep writing. But thank the stars this was better than that AWFUL volume 3!
So. That happened. Lots of navel gazing and Grant coming to grips with his life and then being a prick to Rebecca because although he cheated on his wife, Rebecca is awful for dumping his sorry ass somewhere.
I don't think even Remender knows where this is going but as long as it brings in a check, he'll keep writing. But thank the stars this was better than that AWFUL volume 3!
February 16, 2018
The story is becoming more fleshed out. We are finally getting answers but still some questions. Love the artwork as always. The story was a little more philosophical for the 1st half then hit its straps after that. Loving it!!
September 8, 2020
2.5 stars
September 1, 2016
Remender remains one of the best writers working in comics today, and Black Science one of the best titles being currently published. Image, you're killing it with so many titles now that I can hardly follow.
This volume has tons of character development which I'm sure will later be exploited in some already planned tragedies. Yes Mr. Remender, I learned my lessons well from Fear Agent!
If you like anything sci-fi related, check the whole series out.
This volume has tons of character development which I'm sure will later be exploited in some already planned tragedies. Yes Mr. Remender, I learned my lessons well from Fear Agent!
If you like anything sci-fi related, check the whole series out.
July 13, 2019
Pretty fantastic but one big issue.
World: The art is phenomenal, the creativity in the world building is pretty astonishing. The world building itself is well done, as I said the art does a lot of the heavy lifting but this time around we get more comic science mumbo jumbo about the pillar and the onion.
Story and Characters: I have to talk about both together as this stories main focus was character. The story is good, it's a story that focuses on Grant as a person and him coming to terms with his past. He's still a terribly flawed person and where he goes in this book and how he grows in this book does not excuse his past and his present but it was an interesting read nonetheless. I will say that being Grant and him blaming the entire affair on Rebecca is a pretty terrible shitty thing to do (as I said, he's still pretty flawed) and is in line with his character. At the same time a part of me did find her part of the story rather satisfying. The pacing was frantic and nonstop just like the rest of the series but there are moments of beautiful character moments that make this story have more weight than it should.
It was a good book, the time jump was kinda interesting but the irksome thing with Grant and Rebecca bumped it down a notch.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is phenomenal, the creativity in the world building is pretty astonishing. The world building itself is well done, as I said the art does a lot of the heavy lifting but this time around we get more comic science mumbo jumbo about the pillar and the onion.
Story and Characters: I have to talk about both together as this stories main focus was character. The story is good, it's a story that focuses on Grant as a person and him coming to terms with his past. He's still a terribly flawed person and where he goes in this book and how he grows in this book does not excuse his past and his present but it was an interesting read nonetheless. I will say that being Grant and him blaming the entire affair on Rebecca is a pretty terrible shitty thing to do (as I said, he's still pretty flawed) and is in line with his character. At the same time a part of me did find her part of the story rather satisfying. The pacing was frantic and nonstop just like the rest of the series but there are moments of beautiful character moments that make this story have more weight than it should.
It was a good book, the time jump was kinda interesting but the irksome thing with Grant and Rebecca bumped it down a notch.
Onward to the next book!
March 4, 2018
This was definitely the best of the four that I have read so far. As usual the art work was terrific but the evolution of the story was fantastic. You learn more about Grant McKay and his past and see his growth has a father and human being. I’m looking forward to read vol 5.
September 9, 2016
4 stars
"If you get too big you lose sight of the important stuff. And that tends to be the small things."
This series definitely walks that thin line between genius and insanity. Half the time I'm reading it I'm confused as hell and the other half I'm in awe of the allusion to the grand scheme in play.
I'll still be on board for whatever crazy occurs in the next volume.
"If you get too big you lose sight of the important stuff. And that tends to be the small things."
This series definitely walks that thin line between genius and insanity. Half the time I'm reading it I'm confused as hell and the other half I'm in awe of the allusion to the grand scheme in play.
I'll still be on board for whatever crazy occurs in the next volume.
December 22, 2018
This series feels like it’s one that has to be read in a single sitting. I think there’s 8 volumes total, and done.
It honestly deserves probably a four or five star rating as a whole. It deals with some pretty heavy themes on top of just crazy ass science fiction dimension warping plots.
I’ll probably get the remaining volumes, try to read at once, and reevaluate down the road.
If you haven’t read this series, it’s one of the best from Image, imo. As is Remenders stuff in general.
It honestly deserves probably a four or five star rating as a whole. It deals with some pretty heavy themes on top of just crazy ass science fiction dimension warping plots.
I’ll probably get the remaining volumes, try to read at once, and reevaluate down the road.
If you haven’t read this series, it’s one of the best from Image, imo. As is Remenders stuff in general.
September 5, 2016
Karma.
It's a rhymes-with-glitch.
But dimension-hopping anarchist scientist Grant McKay as an agent of karma?
That's a bitch with a flaming eight-foot sword.
Five stars just for the tables finally turning.
It's a rhymes-with-glitch.
But dimension-hopping anarchist scientist Grant McKay as an agent of karma?
That's a bitch with a flaming eight-foot sword.
Five stars just for the tables finally turning.
January 13, 2025
Este cuarto tomo encarrila todo. Estando todos separados o muertos la acción se centra en Grant, en lo que dan a conocer por Godworld el protagonista repasa su historia y finalidad y obtiene las herramientas para rastrear al resto del equipo.
El arte, diálogo, etc sigue al nivel mas alto posible.
El arte, diálogo, etc sigue al nivel mas alto posible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 15, 2018I had a really hard time getting into the first three volumes. Yes it was non-stop, life-or-death action, but I couldn't really connect to the characters. In volumes 2 and 3 you start to see glimpses into the characters pasts and motivations. Now in Vol 4, I finally feel invested.
April 14, 2018
While volume 1 was incredible, volumes 2 and 3 were just okay. But this volume? Wow, it really packed a wallop revealing Grant's childhood and part of his adult backstory while allowing the reader to observe as he stumbles through the present in something of a fugue state with either an imaginary friend or some sort of AI (possibly invented by another version of himself?). And upon regaining some clarity, he manages to deliver sweet revenge to Rebecca. Not sure how that goes for redeeming himself in the long run, but it must have felt cathartic.
July 9, 2018
Well, the end of that felt much better than I ever would have anticipated.
And we got some information as to why the eververse is all screwy. I like seeing the character shift and blur the lines between flaw and immoral. Justice for one action means injustice for so many others. It’s a ripple effect mirroring the dimensions. Love it!
And we got some information as to why the eververse is all screwy. I like seeing the character shift and blur the lines between flaw and immoral. Justice for one action means injustice for so many others. It’s a ripple effect mirroring the dimensions. Love it!
January 18, 2019
Per què segueixo llegint aquesta col·lecció? És evident que empitjora a cada número. Quina mandra d'història, quin desgavell argumental. No m'agrada cap personatge. No m'interessa res del que els passi.
August 14, 2020
So after the amazing ending of volume three, this one has a massive time and status quo jump, as well as a shift from science fiction, to full blown fantasy. It feels like a miss for me, and stretches my suspension of disbelief to breaking point BUT the final third really gets everything back on track.
The end of this volume was satisfying and excellent and definitely gets me back on board.
It all evens out at 3 out of 5.
The end of this volume was satisfying and excellent and definitely gets me back on board.
It all evens out at 3 out of 5.
April 30, 2020
Time to up the stakes - Multi-verse Death baby!
July 16, 2020
Fantastic!
March 20, 2017
Favorite line "My father used to say that knowledge is knowing tomatoes are fruits, and wisdom is not adding tomatoes to a fruit salad." I really enjoy the series. It has been a while since I read the last one so it took me a minute to catch up to what was going on, but once I remembered I really enjoyed the story. On to the Vol. 5!
September 5, 2016
So, somehow three years have passed since the events in volume 3...
And this entire collection dives into flashbacks from Grant McKay's broken childhood and for a second attempts to explain how and why he is the way he is as an adult... you know, an "anarchist", bad father, husband guilty of infidelity... I put anarchist in quotes because, well, I haven't really seen any solid examples of that yet besides his wanton shirking of the status quo, which is more like "I do what I want" type attitude and a lot less some sort of political ideology. There have been a couple Crass references, but I guess I need a little more before I start calling people anarchists.
Regardless, the volume revolves around McKay and his own internal struggles as his seeks out his children on a trail that went cold three years ago, reaches its end, and Waaaah waah.
Kind of hate Mr. McKay at this point, but whatever, I wanna see what's in the middle of this motherfucking onion.
And this entire collection dives into flashbacks from Grant McKay's broken childhood and for a second attempts to explain how and why he is the way he is as an adult... you know, an "anarchist", bad father, husband guilty of infidelity... I put anarchist in quotes because, well, I haven't really seen any solid examples of that yet besides his wanton shirking of the status quo, which is more like "I do what I want" type attitude and a lot less some sort of political ideology. There have been a couple Crass references, but I guess I need a little more before I start calling people anarchists.
Regardless, the volume revolves around McKay and his own internal struggles as his seeks out his children on a trail that went cold three years ago, reaches its end, and Waaaah waah.
Kind of hate Mr. McKay at this point, but whatever, I wanna see what's in the middle of this motherfucking onion.
August 25, 2016
Si bien es 'desequilibrado' comparar un volumen con tres arcos como Black Science Premiere HC: The Beginners' Guide to Entropy contra este que es solo uno, se pueden sacar algunas conclusiones como que la historia desacelera un poco para profundizar un poco más en el personaje principal- Grant McKay- para estos efectos.
Mezclando flashbacks de su infancia, así como narrando en definitiva que lo llevó a embarcarse en el proyecto de los pilares, y el trasfondo de sus decisiones pasadas, con mundos repletos de las pesadillas del mismo. A la vez que trae cierto desenlace con Rebecca, personaje que recordemos desencadenó el cliffhanger del tomo anterior.
El dibujo sigue en buena forma de la mano de Scalera, acompañado esta vez con los colores de Moreno Dinisio que no hace extrañar para nada a Dean White.
'My father used to say that knowledge is knowing tomatoes are fruits, and wisdom is not adding tomatoes to a fruit salad'
Mezclando flashbacks de su infancia, así como narrando en definitiva que lo llevó a embarcarse en el proyecto de los pilares, y el trasfondo de sus decisiones pasadas, con mundos repletos de las pesadillas del mismo. A la vez que trae cierto desenlace con Rebecca, personaje que recordemos desencadenó el cliffhanger del tomo anterior.
El dibujo sigue en buena forma de la mano de Scalera, acompañado esta vez con los colores de Moreno Dinisio que no hace extrañar para nada a Dean White.
'My father used to say that knowledge is knowing tomatoes are fruits, and wisdom is not adding tomatoes to a fruit salad'
December 22, 2016
En este cuarto volumen aparecen numerosos recuerdos y Flashbacks de la infancia de Grant McKay en el que vemos cuales pueden ser algunas de las razones de que sea un pésimo padre/marido y un soberano capullo en general en el tiempo actual, se nos presenta bien en lo que parece un mundo crado Ad-hoc para el arrepentimiento de McKay o bien en una secuencia onírica de larga duración... no lo termino de tener claro... el caso es que puede que de aquí saque fuerzas para reconducir esta situación y salvar a su familia.
Este volumen me ha sorprendido gratamente, estaba a punto de tirar la toalla con esta serie, pero al fin la trama avanza a un ritmo razonable y parece que se empiezan a resolver cosas y a darse explicaciones que se han ido retrasando... de lo mejor de la colección hasta ahora...
El dibujo de Matteo Scalera sigue siendo genial, y aunque adoro el color que ha aportado Dean White en los primeros números, he de reconocer que al ser sustituido por Moreno Dinisio el dibujo gana en claridad y sigue ofreciendo ambientes sorprendentes y geniales.
Este volumen me ha sorprendido gratamente, estaba a punto de tirar la toalla con esta serie, pero al fin la trama avanza a un ritmo razonable y parece que se empiezan a resolver cosas y a darse explicaciones que se han ido retrasando... de lo mejor de la colección hasta ahora...
El dibujo de Matteo Scalera sigue siendo genial, y aunque adoro el color que ha aportado Dean White en los primeros números, he de reconocer que al ser sustituido por Moreno Dinisio el dibujo gana en claridad y sigue ofreciendo ambientes sorprendentes y geniales.
April 25, 2016
I'm dropping this one down a couple of stars.
It was still entertaining - it was just a little slow.
After the explosive conclusion of the last arc, I was really eager to dig right into the follow-up. The only problem is, not only do we get a time skip of three years - but the only character (pretty much) in this entire arc is Grant.
WTF?
The art is still bang on...and filling in Grant's back story as to why he is so fucked in the head is interesting and all - but five whole issues? To much!
I still love this series to death, and I am hella excited for more - especially now that Grant has 'found himself.'
I just wish the dumb bastard coulda done it a little bit faster!
It was still entertaining - it was just a little slow.
After the explosive conclusion of the last arc, I was really eager to dig right into the follow-up. The only problem is, not only do we get a time skip of three years - but the only character (pretty much) in this entire arc is Grant.
WTF?
The art is still bang on...and filling in Grant's back story as to why he is so fucked in the head is interesting and all - but five whole issues? To much!
I still love this series to death, and I am hella excited for more - especially now that Grant has 'found himself.'
I just wish the dumb bastard coulda done it a little bit faster!
January 18, 2022
Midway through and this series has really grown on me - I'm finally over my issues with some of the character art and the inability to differentiate between the brunettes of the bunch, and as far as character development, it has been strong throughout the series but really gets a big boost in this volume as we learn what truly motivates Grant to do the things that he does. Really fun book, awesome pencils (outside of a couple of the character designs), funny, yet still emotionally poignant. Remender isn't my favourite writer of all-time and can be hit-and-miss for me sometimes, but installments like this definitely help to move him up the list.
July 17, 2016
Wow do I love the color saturation of this series. Great art and always amazing and interesting creatures. I remember being underwhelmed by the third volume, but this one was a solid addition. Most likely because it delved into a character study of Grant instead of relying on external dimensions to dazzle me. Add in a three year time jump, and I'm glad to see this series overcoming that volume three dip.
July 31, 2016
I really enjoyed this volume because it develops the character of Grant McKay (the lead character) quite a bit and he does it in a really original, interesting way. Other than the first few issues, this series has been all plot. The plot is engrossing and action-packed and all that, but I do like characters with some meat so this collected volume and the first one are probably my faves so far. Definitely going to keep reading and looking forward to the next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews