by 
Mars Attacks #4 is published by Dynamite Entertainment, written by Kyle Starks, with arts and colors by Chris Schweizer and Liz Trice Schweizer respectively. Last time, in issue number three, we left Spencer and his dad, Major Carbutt, in the middle of a bonding moment. The cranky old man and his loser son have met each other on common ground and opened a new path of understanding and love. But, this comes in the middle of the invasion and the Mars’ attacks intensifying.
Now, without his wheelbarrow, Pop’s age is showing. As the father and son find a place to hide-out, Spencer cracks jokes about his dad’s frailty and age as his dad quips back. The veteran Marine is still sharp even if his body isn’t. As the two attempt to hide with their loyal dog, things don’t go as planned. Dad’s love for his son is potent and Spencer finally fights back.
Stark has a way with words. This isn’t a comic series with a lot of exposition or dialogue, but when it’s there it’s all necessary and serves to round out the characters. I’ve raved about the art in this book before, and I will do it again. The illustration of the Martians from Schweizer, bring in the feel of Tim Burton’s cult classic while maintaining a unique quality. The results of ray gun zaps are technically gory but the illustration is campy and minimalistic that it’s just the right level of weird and horror.
The colors of the book remain undefeated. I am still in awe Trice Schweizer’s use of monochromatic palettes to show dark environments while still having enough depth to make them interesting. And of course, the letters are perfect. In one scene, a person becomes more and more unhinged the longer Spencer and his dad stay near him. As he gets more erratic the letters do too, growing in size and showing the weight of the situation.
The ending of the issue is stellar. I don’t want to spoil anything but it’s emotional and ends on the right amount of suspense that will ensure readers will be picking up issue number five when it comes out next month. Mars Attacks #4 is a beautifully drawn and colored issue with a tight story.
Over the last four issues, Mars Attacks has become one of my favorite titles right now. The creative team has put together a book that does the cult classic justice but is packed full of originality that makes the subject matter their own. If you like science fiction, family bonding, and stunning visuals then you need to pick this up.
My only ask for the future is for to have more panels of their dog, but this is a completely selfish request because more dogs makes everything better.
Mars Attacks #4 is available tomorrow, January 23, 2019, wherever comic books are sold.
Mars Attacks #4
TL;DR
Over the last four issues, Mars Attacks has become one of my favorite titles right now. The creative team has put together a book that does the cult classic justice but is packed full of originality that makes the subject matter their own. If you like science fiction, family bonding, and stunning visuals then you need to pick this up.
Kate Sánchez is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of But Why Tho? A Geek Community. There, she coordinates film, television, anime, and manga coverage. Kate is also a freelance journalist writing features on video games, anime, and film. Her focus as a critic is championing animation and international films and television series for inclusion in awards cycles.