Posted on: April 7th, 2010 Comically Challenged-The Intergalactic Nemesis

This week we have a different feel to Comically Challenged.  Wait, a different feel?  No.  It still feels delightful.  Different take.  This week we’re going on a journey through a comic unlike any comic I’ve had the pleasure of reading.  Let me set this up for you: I was doing whatever it is I do (saving kittens, helping the elderly, etc.) when out of the blue, our buddy Ryan Ferrier sends me a link and invites me to look into this comic.  Me being the “shoot-from-the-hip” kind of gal I am, I don’t do any research prior to reading, I just dive into The Intergalactic Nemesis.

Molly Sloan is a newspaper reporter back in the 1930s.  She’s got a trusty, yet dopey, sidekick named Jimmy and they find themselves in the middle of a crazy alien-invasion escapade.  Sharp and quick banter and not-so-politically-correct accents make up the bulk of the dialogue.  So, I’m reading this comic and I’m starting to feel where we’re going with the tone of the book.  It’s very kitschy and over-the-top; harkening back to the old-school of science fiction story telling.

Jason Neulander pens the comic with Tim Doyle heading up the art.  The book’s sense of humor prevails over all else.  It’s almost impossible to take this story seriously but that’s totally the point.  The dialogue is unnatural, the plot devices are so obvious and the story itself is wildly illogical.  Even the art is bold and brash, especially when it comes to coloring.  Just look at this splash-page.  See how the lettering is so big that it runs off the word-balloon?  That made me laugh.  It’s everything that a retro sci-fi story needs to maintain the attention of the audience. However, as I read, I kept thinking to myself, “Something’s missing.”  In fact, it drove me crazy as I read.

Three issues are available right now in webcomic form.  The first two can be purchased online if a tangible read is more your style.  Trust me, this is the kind of comic you need to read under the covers with a flashlight if you’re going to get the full effect.  Still, as I went on through the issues, I could not for the life of me think what element this story was missing.  And then I found it thanks to the fine people that created the books.  I needed sound.

This whole thing started as a radio drama!  Had I been a little more thorough in my investigative research going into this book, I might have had an easier time experiencing the story as the writers intended.  That’s why I’m here; to help you out so that you might not experience the same fate.

Right now, you may be asking, “Auburn, are radio dramas for me?”  Well, Friend, they may not be.  You should definitely give them a try though.  Hell, give The Intergalactic Nemesis a try.  It’s well done.  But these guys don’t just take a radio drama and turn it into a comic book.  Why stop there?  Let’s do a radio drama, in front of a theater full of people AND show the sequential art up on the big screen?  Does that work?  Yes.  Yes it does.  It’s what they call a “Live-Action Graphic Novel” and it’s absolutely fantastic.  Makes me jealous of those that live in Texas.

Currently, each issue is performed per month as a short before movies at the Alamo Draft House but they have plans for a feature-length presentation in the fall that gives you the entire story in one big performance.  I’m not sure what my plans are for September, but I may just be dropping down to Texas to see this all come together.

If you like fun and retro sci-fi, head over yonder to http://www.theintergalacticnemesis.com/ to experience one story three different ways.

6 Responses to “Comically Challenged-The Intergalactic Nemesis”

1. Eric Says:
   April 12th, 2010 at 10:44 am

   I’ve seen this acted live at the Drafthouse and it was better than the actual movie I was there to see!

2. ninjashadow Says:
   April 12th, 2010 at 11:02 am

   Can you order the comics in a package?

3. Jason Says:
   April 12th, 2010 at 11:19 am

   Auburn, come to Austin and see the show as my guest! Sept. 3 and 4 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Read today’s post on the Nemesis blog to see just how much you made my day!

4. Auburn Says:
   April 12th, 2010 at 8:58 pm

   @ninja-No, but it would be awesome if we could-maybe in the future (looking at you, Jason). Currently there are only the first two issues available for purchase on the site.

   @Jason-Thanks for the invite! I’ll try to make that happen. You guys keep making with the magic.

5. Jason Says:
   April 13th, 2010 at 9:11 am

   as the issues come out, we’ll have them for sale on the site. Issues 3 and 4 head to the printer early next week. Should be available for sale by mid-june. I’m expecting to have all 7 available by the end of August. Then we start on Return of the Intergalactic Nemesis–7 issues out in 2011…

6. GIANT KILLER SQUID » Blog Archive » The Intergalactic Nemesis Needs You! Says:
   April 13th, 2011 at 8:46 pm

   [...] for The Intergalactic Nemesis (our very own Auburn reviewed the first issue of the print series here). To be frank, we think Nemesis is the total tits. And why do we think that? Well it’s [...]

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