HEIST HOW TO STEAL A PLANET #1
Writer: Paul Tobin
Artist: Arjuna Susini
Colorist: Vittorio Astone
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Publisher: Vault Comics
9 hours. That’s how long it took for Glane Breld to plan another heist after finally getting out of prison. He’s the most versed thief on Heist, the last independent planet in 300 years from the Dignity Corporation who has enslaved hundreds of planets after they’ve been freed.
“What do you think that makes you? You think that makes you smart?”
“No. I think it makes me about nine hours behind schedule.”
With its lesser-to-none safety ratings, 9-billion of the most ruthless beings inhabit the planet in Bootes galaxy - thieves, murderers, and if you are a murderer, you can find those selling all sorts of body parts in the corners of the planet.
“I need a crew,” states Breld. He’s finally made it to his favorite bar where his friend’s right T-80 endoskeletal arm rests. There’s a wolf-man inside the pub along with a three-eyed woman dressed in all red.
Breld wants a crew consisting of Celene Disse, daughter of master gunsmith Talak Disse. The deadliest woman in the whole damn planet. Gaville, a mastery of disguise. Crazy and enjoys blowing things up. Two, sophisticated, short-haired women.
Lastly, Eddy Lets, a smart, yet drunken, well-connected assassin.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to just commit suicide? That man wants you dead.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to recruit him first.”
Heist will be a classic, sci-fi revenge crucible. The moment I turned its pages, I’m sucked in a wormhole of art goodness that it’s so difficult to move forward. There are whispers of sci-fi movies I love such as Terminator or Blade Runner with its other-worldly characters, flying cars, neon green holo-ads of octopus-women and coffee, yet it’s still its own, amusing world. And it’s damn fun! The world has created some names for their vehicles while some of the ships strike at you in the pages. The art seems dusty like an untouched colorful vase that’s vivid, yet the ink is so refined and medium-heavy that it’s open to a range of tones.
Paul Tobin adds a strong first-person narrative that allows us to get inside the thoughts of Breld himself. The condensed and populated panels give the book a sense of uneasiness yet it still has its own humorous moments. The snarkiness removes a darker tone for me, as the colors scream nothing but apocalyptic sci-fi disco. Lavender bubbles in white font! Some of the youthful letterings I’ve seen in some of these pages I don’t believe I’ve ever seen before.
Overall, this book has a lot more story background than what’s stated above, it’ll blow your butts off!