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Mars Attacks #1-5
Mars Attacks
Spencer hasn't finished a dang thing in his life. So, when he goes to visit his dad to see if maybe he can borrow some money, the last thing on his mind is global survival. Now Spencer and his father are on the run, trying to avoid being space-ray'd by a bunch of destruction happy Martians, heck bent on zapping them dead!
Writer Kyle Starks (Rick and Morty, Rock Candy Mountain) and artist Chris Schweizer (The Creeps, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl) bring you the face melting experience of a lifetime with Mars Attacks for the first time at Dynamite!
Writer Kyle Starks (Rick and Morty, Rock Candy Mountain) and artist Chris Schweizer (The Creeps, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl) bring you the face melting experience of a lifetime with Mars Attacks for the first time at Dynamite!
132 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 21, 2019
The martians are invading the Earth! The veteran father and his good for nothing hippie son must run for their lives to survive.
Kyle Starks is back, baby! Mars Attacks is another one of his parody-type comics that invoke the spirit of the old days of B-movies, adventure and good times. As far as I can tell, he's one of the only people working in pretty much any medium right now who understands the joy of those types of stories. In a world where everything is high-fantasy-something or hardcore-sci-fi-whaddayacallit, when most writers are focused on worldbuilding and creating multi-part franchises, Kyle Starks just writes fun, delightful stories with simple premises and simple characters that are instantly relatable and enjoyable. I miss the adventure in my stories, and I'm glad there's at least one writer who is still willing to write them.
Chris Schweizer's artwork is appropriately cartoony but still impressive — he really does depict one impressive alien invasion with lots of gore and destruction, and the alien designs are really cool.
Overall, Mars Attacks is a pure joy of a comic. Simple, fun, a quick read and a delightful adventure — what more could you ask for in an alien invasion story?
Kyle Starks is back, baby! Mars Attacks is another one of his parody-type comics that invoke the spirit of the old days of B-movies, adventure and good times. As far as I can tell, he's one of the only people working in pretty much any medium right now who understands the joy of those types of stories. In a world where everything is high-fantasy-something or hardcore-sci-fi-whaddayacallit, when most writers are focused on worldbuilding and creating multi-part franchises, Kyle Starks just writes fun, delightful stories with simple premises and simple characters that are instantly relatable and enjoyable. I miss the adventure in my stories, and I'm glad there's at least one writer who is still willing to write them.
Chris Schweizer's artwork is appropriately cartoony but still impressive — he really does depict one impressive alien invasion with lots of gore and destruction, and the alien designs are really cool.
Overall, Mars Attacks is a pure joy of a comic. Simple, fun, a quick read and a delightful adventure — what more could you ask for in an alien invasion story?
August 13, 2019
The juxtaposition of a father and son squabbling while an alien apocalypse is occurring around them is fun. However, I couldn't get past the art. The aliens were fine, but the main characters often looked like they had been sketched on the back of a cocktail napkin. Some pages I couldn't even tell you what happened on them.
August 3, 2021
Hahaha...SURPRISINGLY GOOD.
I have fond memories of collecting these cards when they came out in the very early 60's, and even moreso that Tim Burton's 1996 film, this book really took me back. Part of it was the way Starks and Schweizer slyly incorporated some of the original cards in their "TV news coverage" of the attack:
(original card - above - and as used in the book - below)
...but also because this is also a much better (and more serious) story than that in the movie. It centers on a touching story about a young man and his estranged father, and in many ways is quite similar to the early Walking Dead graphic novels - basically just substitute martians for zombies.
On the artwork, illustrator Schweizer has a unique style that works surprisingly well here. He never varies his line weight - basically drawing everything with a single Sharpie - and then uses only unshaded solid colors:
But within those limitations, he comes up with surprising levels of detail, atmosphere and subtlety. Combined with a panel layout that is often almost "cinematic," the end result is an unexpected pleasure - this version would make a good movie!
Below random pages highlight both Schweizers' subtle and bold use of color, as well as the "script storyboard"-like nature of certain pages:
If you're really old, or just want to see the weird ways we incorporated the Cold War into popular entertainment for children back in the 60's: https://imgur.com/gallery/TsO8f, https://www.oldsportscards.com/mars-a...
I have fond memories of collecting these cards when they came out in the very early 60's, and even moreso that Tim Burton's 1996 film, this book really took me back. Part of it was the way Starks and Schweizer slyly incorporated some of the original cards in their "TV news coverage" of the attack:
(original card - above - and as used in the book - below)
...but also because this is also a much better (and more serious) story than that in the movie. It centers on a touching story about a young man and his estranged father, and in many ways is quite similar to the early Walking Dead graphic novels - basically just substitute martians for zombies.
On the artwork, illustrator Schweizer has a unique style that works surprisingly well here. He never varies his line weight - basically drawing everything with a single Sharpie - and then uses only unshaded solid colors:
But within those limitations, he comes up with surprising levels of detail, atmosphere and subtlety. Combined with a panel layout that is often almost "cinematic," the end result is an unexpected pleasure - this version would make a good movie!
Below random pages highlight both Schweizers' subtle and bold use of color, as well as the "script storyboard"-like nature of certain pages:
If you're really old, or just want to see the weird ways we incorporated the Cold War into popular entertainment for children back in the 60's: https://imgur.com/gallery/TsO8f, https://www.oldsportscards.com/mars-a...
October 1, 2022
Why do golden retrievers always show up in these disaster movies and make it?
I'm sorry, but if Martians were death-raying everything that moves, I don't think the goldens would last too long.
I put my money on the survival of old potato dogs who probably would stay in bed or on the porch, even if everyone was getting zapped. It's entirely possible that in all the mayhem, the Martians wouldn't even register those dogs as alive, and they'd pass right by. Maybe those Russian dogs who know how to ride the subway, they seem like they have a good shot.
That's why this book is a reminder: cherish the time you have with your golden. Because when the Martians come, he's probably going to run up to a bipedal Martian war machine and drop a tennis ball at its feet.
I'm sorry, but if Martians were death-raying everything that moves, I don't think the goldens would last too long.
I put my money on the survival of old potato dogs who probably would stay in bed or on the porch, even if everyone was getting zapped. It's entirely possible that in all the mayhem, the Martians wouldn't even register those dogs as alive, and they'd pass right by. Maybe those Russian dogs who know how to ride the subway, they seem like they have a good shot.
That's why this book is a reminder: cherish the time you have with your golden. Because when the Martians come, he's probably going to run up to a bipedal Martian war machine and drop a tennis ball at its feet.
January 7, 2021
Like most "younger" people, my connection with Mars Attacks is primarily the 90s Tim Burton movie which seems to have done a so-so job capturing the charm of the original trading cards. These comics seem to try to find some sort of middle-ground of satire and silliness but probably ends up somewhat falling flat on both parts. I have to say that I probably wish that they would have leaned a bit harder on the satire stuff but it was still a fun series. The art wasn't great but it didn't set me off too much.
September 4, 2023
I love licensed comics and I’m actually a huge fan of both Mars Attacks and Kyle Starks! I also am a huge fan of when Starks teams up with Chris Schweizer because I think they really work well together. I was excited to read this one and it contained everything I was looking for in a Kyle Starks book, but fit perfectly within the Mars Attacks universe! As with most of Starks’ books, this one was over-the-top and a bit crude in the best ways, but also heart-warming and uplifting in the most surprising of ways. Really enjoyed this one!
September 23, 2024
Not bad but turns a little Starship Trooper-y, and not in a great way.
September 6, 2019
This book has everything. Great writing. Great characters. Great art.
October 17, 2020
In honour of this festive season, I'm reading 2 graphic lit adapations of some of my favourite Halloween appropriate movies, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Mars Attacks. Both are crappy adaptations as the first is way too faithful to the source material and the latter is nothing like the movie. With adaptations to a different medium there must be some changes, and changes are what can provide the novelty to make adaptations worthwhile.
But this series has none of the qualities of the original. The only similarity is the overall concept of Mars invading the U.S. and the rough look of the Martians is roughly inspired by the movie. But the story and art go their own way completely.
That's not the main problem though. The quirkiness, the humour, the retro scifi look, basically all the charm are gone. Yes, there are moments of dark or offbeat humour like the movie, but mostly this is a run-of-the-mill alien invasion story with boring characters and too much focus on a maudlin father son strained relationship storyline.
There was a great opportunity for the art to have some bizarre fun. Instead the art seems too hasty, uninspired, and muddy.
This probably deserves 2 stars, but since we will never get a sequel or tv show of Mars Attacks, this was all I had and I'm angrily disapointed!
But this series has none of the qualities of the original. The only similarity is the overall concept of Mars invading the U.S. and the rough look of the Martians is roughly inspired by the movie. But the story and art go their own way completely.
That's not the main problem though. The quirkiness, the humour, the retro scifi look, basically all the charm are gone. Yes, there are moments of dark or offbeat humour like the movie, but mostly this is a run-of-the-mill alien invasion story with boring characters and too much focus on a maudlin father son strained relationship storyline.
There was a great opportunity for the art to have some bizarre fun. Instead the art seems too hasty, uninspired, and muddy.
This probably deserves 2 stars, but since we will never get a sequel or tv show of Mars Attacks, this was all I had and I'm angrily disapointed!
Read
December 5, 2019Kyle Starks' propensity for ludicrous action stories makes him a perfect match for a property which is all about the OTT devastation; I particularly enjoy his description of the little bastards as looking "like angry testes with eyes". Our human protagonists are Spencer, a young man who never seems able to make a go of anything, and his cantankerous old dad, left to die "like a fart in a closet" in a nursing home where the doctors start offering the residents – and the visitors, and themselves – lethal injections as alien Armageddon draws closer. But maybe the real alien invasion is the father-son bonding they'll find along the way? [Needs work - Ed.] Starks' big mate Chris Schweizer provides the art, working from Starks designs for the leads, and it does feel a lot like a Starks solo book would have, just significantly less sparse in its look, much more loving detail to the cartoonish carnage. Alternate covers from horror artists like Tom Mandrake and Robert Hack, while very good, suggest quite how unpalatably horrible the whole enterprise might be if played straight.
January 23, 2024
As a fan of nearly anything Mars Attacks related this was a fun read. Always great seeing these martians just destroying earth. Stories change from time to time but overall stay the same.
This time around we follow Spencer and his father as they escape the nursing home to survive. The Martians are mostly a background thing until the end when Spencer holds them captive a lone Martian. It's a simple story that I think could have possibly been expanded with more Martians but maybe it's just a side story in the big Mars Attacks comic world. Hell, they mention some of the previous happenings from the older stuff. When it comes to the art it has some amazing splash panels and the style they use is pretty good. It ends at a point where I want more and I don't know if they have plans to expand this particular story done by Kyle Starks but I hope so. Taking the fight to Mars itself is gonna be cool. I own a handful of the original lines and I wanna review those but I gotta finish collecting them first.
This time around we follow Spencer and his father as they escape the nursing home to survive. The Martians are mostly a background thing until the end when Spencer holds them captive a lone Martian. It's a simple story that I think could have possibly been expanded with more Martians but maybe it's just a side story in the big Mars Attacks comic world. Hell, they mention some of the previous happenings from the older stuff. When it comes to the art it has some amazing splash panels and the style they use is pretty good. It ends at a point where I want more and I don't know if they have plans to expand this particular story done by Kyle Starks but I hope so. Taking the fight to Mars itself is gonna be cool. I own a handful of the original lines and I wanna review those but I gotta finish collecting them first.
June 16, 2023
There's more going on here than I expected from a trading card tie-in (this is very definitely based on the original source material), as we get father/son bonding and relationship exploration as they're on the run from the invaders. It's the action between those two that really drives the story, although there is a lot of devastation going on around them (much of it darkly humored, as one should expect from this property). But Kyle Starks will get you invested in the leads, and then uses that investment to powerful effect. The ending really feels earned, and the art throughout is cartoonish enough to blunt some of the horrors, but still detailed enough to make some of the destruction hurt. All in all, a pleasant surprise.
November 24, 2021
One of the coolest books ever. Grounding Mars Attacks was a great idea and that follows the continuity of the trading cards. A smaller scale story that follows a man and his dad as they navigate through the events of the Mars Attacks cards. The art is stylized and slick, it contrasts the old art style but really pulls it off. I think everyone can dig this one regardless of your knowledge about Mars Attacks.
July 24, 2019
While I'd originally read the individual comics as they came out, I was lucky enough to supplement that with the full thing. Originally brought to my attention because I follow the (amazing) illustrator on social media, I am so glad that I found this run of comics. Such a breath of fresh air, and really a fun, spooky but tongue in cheek sci-fi read for the summer.
Would highly recommend!
Would highly recommend!
October 21, 2019
This proves that the right creative team can pull me into any series. Never thought I would read a Mars Attacks comic. Never thought I would enjoy reading Mars Attacks book so much, but then Kyle Starks and Chris Schweizer tell a damn good story. If you enjoyed this, do yourself a favor and pick up both volume of Rock Candy Mountain.
November 1, 2023
I adore the movie and this is a great book to have as a fan. I think the overall story needed one or two more issues, especially when certain shocking things happen, so we can have more time with the characters. I also have to deduct points for the lack of “ack acks” in the book, but overall it’s a fun little side adventure away from the movie itself.
March 13, 2019
Really this is a 3.5 or 4, as it's a lot of fun. But it almost feels like it's the tip of an iceberg and it leaves you wanting more from both this team and these characters. That's good because you know Starks and Schweizer will work together again, but you don't know if it will be in this world.
December 12, 2020
Surprisingly Good Time
I didn't go into this with high expectations, but I really liked this comic. The art is unique and fits the tone well. The story and writing were really good and had more heart than one might expect from Mars Attacks. Quirky and fun.
I didn't go into this with high expectations, but I really liked this comic. The art is unique and fits the tone well. The story and writing were really good and had more heart than one might expect from Mars Attacks. Quirky and fun.
August 5, 2019
This was an awesome book. Great art cool story. Sadly it ended too soon. I could read at least three more volumes by these guys.
November 12, 2019
It's based on the movie. The martians rain death and destruction on the humans while one man and his elderly father try and stay one step ahead of the Martian advance.
July 3, 2021
Pretty good comic. As dark as the original trading cards, but with the dark humor of the Tim Burton movie. You should definitely check it out if you’re a fan of either the cards or movie.
September 30, 2024
I've always been a big fan of the franchise but this one just didn't vibe for me the way I really wanted it to.
January 15, 2023
This graphic novel just wasn't for me. I'm sure other people will love it.
I only kept reading it so I could complete a prompt for the reindeer readathon and earn my team points.
I only kept reading it so I could complete a prompt for the reindeer readathon and earn my team points.
September 11, 2019
Maybe the best MARS ATTACKS comic? It's got a simple father/son storyline at its centre, but Kyle Starks revels in the iconography that has been passed down since the TOPPS trading cards.
November 2, 2019
Loved the movie as a kid, loved this book as an adult!
This was a hilarious, heartfelt, clever book, and I'm so happy to have spotted it at NYCC.
This was a hilarious, heartfelt, clever book, and I'm so happy to have spotted it at NYCC.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews