Is this still a franchise that’s worth buying?  Read on to find out.

The official description from IDW:

In the small town of Tortilla Flats, New Mexico, events are unfolding that could change the direction of the war. What the heck do a boy and former mobster have to do with it? Don’t miss any of the action in this runaway hit series!

I haven’t picked up a Mars Attacks comic since Topps was putting out the series in the mid-90’s right around the release of the Tim Burton directed film. The cover of the book I was about to read was enough to spark my interest, with the image of Martian and Man hand-in-hand in a loving, peaceful scene. Beyond that it doesn’t hurt that writer John Layman was at the helm.

The majority of the story is focused on Martian Blyx and his ever increasing doubt that humans are not the monsters he has been led to believe or that their total annihilation is the ultimate solution. Our protagonist’s doubt grows ever more present when he is assigned a mission with mobster Ray Delvechio. Ray’s intentions to turn over the scientist who can destroy the martians is a sign to Blyx that humans may indeed want peace. Could Man and Martian learn to live in harmony? Anyone familiar with Layman’s work should know the answer.

Layman’s stroke of genius is when Delvechio delivers a speech to the martians that reads as an admission of humans flawed aggression, that martians may be right and that one day we may all live in peace. But the scientist he has turned over has manipulated the frequency of his translator so that his words come out completely opposite of his intentions. The slow burn of the what the martians understand is unadulterated fun. John McCrea’s art has a classic Mars Attacks feel with all the fun, action and violence this series deserves.

It’s been a long time since I have read one of these books but I won’t miss out after this issue and neither should you.  Recommended.

4/5