REVIEW: ‘Mysterious of Love in Space,’ Issue #1

Mysterious of Love in Space #1 is an anthology of sorts featuring love stories from famous DC Comics characters and couples. The book features a plethora of creative teams including: James Tynion IV, Jesus Merino, Romulo Fajardo Jr, Clayton Cowles, Kyle Higgins, Cian Tormey, John Kalisz, Saladin Ahmed, Max Dunbar, Paul Mounts, Dave Sharpe, Cecil Castellucci, Elena Casagrande, Jordi Bellaire, Steve Wands, Aaron Gillespie, Max Raynor, Hi-Fi, Andrea Shea, Amancy Nahuelpan, Trish Mulvihill, Tom Napolitano, Jeff Loveness, Tom Grummett, Cam Smith, Adriano Lucas, Tom Napolitano, Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Bernard Sachs, and Julius Schwartz.

Previously, DC has done a few special issues like this usually around holidays like Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day. However, this book seems out of the blue since it smackdab between Christmas and Valentine’s. Filled with space-themed love stories, the anthology follows various DC Comics characters on their romantic adventures. But these love stories slew a bit more on the Gift of the Magi, the depressing Christmas short story by O. Henry following two poverty-ridden lovers trying to buy each other a present, side and less like a campy Hallmark movie.

While there are a few stand out stories, particularly Ahmed’s story following Bizzaro, “Backward Heart” and Castellucci’s story following a dateless Hawkgirl, “Galentine’s Day,” most of them bled together and were fairly boring. However, each issue despite have unique art it flows well together.

For me personally, this issue did not feature a lot of A-list DC Characters instead focusing on the likes of Crush, Lobo’s daughter currently starring in Teen Titans, and a Space Cabbie. Even these story with Darkseid, “An Apokoliptian Love Story” was based around a couple, who more or less felt like a rip-off of Saga, fighting Darkseid. It is a challenge to make readers care about these characters and for the most part, it was not successful.

Overall, the stories are bizarre, and not just because one features Bizarro. Mysterious of Love in Space #1 lacks a lot of the emotional impact it was going for, mostly since the stories are so short barely making up a regular single issue.

What should have been a fun, campy retro-futuristic romp ends up feeling closer to the 1998 movie Lost in Space where Joey from Friends, Matt LeBlanc, tries to sleep with Heather Graham. The inspiration is there but it is executed poorly. With a hefty price tag of $9.99, I have a hard time recommending this book even though I enjoyed some of the stories and the art.

Mysterious of Love in Space #1 is available now in comic book stores everywhere.