Sea of Stars #6 // Review
Kadyn's dad is looking for him. They're deep in space. It's going to be a hell of a reunion if they can ever manage to get together. There's more than distance separating them as Sea of Stars arrived at its sixth issue. Writers Jason Aaron and Dennis Hallum continue a pulpy space fantasy adventure that's brought to the page by artist Stephen Green. Colorist Rico Renzi gives the spectacular world of deep space fantasy an unearthly depth in another journey into danger as the two main characters continue to try to connect up. It may be lacking the spark that could make it brilliant, but the series continues to entertain.
Kadyn's father is struggling with blood and bad tech. Everything seems to have fallen apart. And then there's the fact that he's in the belly of a giant space whale. That's not very good, either. Kadyn has come across a great deal of power. He knows that his dad is inside the space whale. His power might not be enough to get his dad out into the open, though. There are complications involving other aliens that might pull them even further apart. It's a very, very dangerous world, and both father and son are alone in different ways.
The power, innocence, and inexperience of Kadyn is contrasted against the powerlessness, grit, and resourcefulness of his dad in an issue that Aaron and Hallum seem to have framed pretty well. All of the plot's added elements stretching out between father and son seem to clutter the story in a way that keeps the central conflict from living-up to its potential. The heart of the issue is intact, though. If Aaron and Hallum focussed just a bit more on the series' two lead characters, the adventure would pack a bit more punch.
Green's rendering of the interior of a giant space whale is respectably cavernous. More wide shots and weird angles might add to the father's predicament's peculiarity and the danger he's faced with. Renzi lends Kadyn a light blue luminosity that solidly steers the visual of his flight away from the cheesy Astro Boy territory it might otherwise careen off into. Given the right perspective, there could be a real power in contrast between the universe's immensity and the wonder of this tiny, glowing boy flying around. There are moments of weird and wondrous beauty in this issue. It's too bad the Green doesn't get a chance to center more of the issue on those moments.
As the series reaches the end of its sixth issue, the ongoing conflict of father and son trying to reunite seems as powerful as it's ever been. The rest of the elements of the plot seem to lack the kind of direction necessary to make the story shoot across the page from cover to cover with the style, grace, and energy of a little luminescent, blue Kadyn. The distinct voice of the series is solidly realized, though. There's warmth and charm to what the creative team is filling the pages with.
