a watercolor sci-fi comic about a boy robot in a dangerous world

October 14, 2017 9:28 PM

Descender is a comic book printed by Image Comics, publisher of many sweet creator-owned titles. It's written by Jeff Lemire of Old Man Logan, Black Hammer, and Essex County. The artist is the inimitable Dustin Nguyen, whose work (mostly in watercolor) graces such titles as Streets of Gotham, Manifest Eternity, Secret Hero Society, and Lil Gotham. It's a sci-fi story about Tim-21, a boy robot designed to be a child's companion, and his adventures in a world where robots are hunted. There are four volumes out so far in trade paperback, collecting the first 21 issues. It's very pretty-- this Kotaku Australia review has some pictures.
posted by 4th number (13 comments total)

Descender is such a good book. It's the kind of thing that should be winning Hugo awards. It, Prophet, and The Omega Men have really opened up comic books to high quality science fiction in a way I haven't seen in a long time.
posted by thecjm at 9:33 PM on October 14, 2017 [5 favorites]

Plus, I can NOT express my love for Image enough. When I run into all of these newly-forged comics fan, I try to run them down some alternate paths then the Big Two, and explain to them what is so lovely about the idea of creator-owned comics.
posted by Samizdata at 10:39 PM on October 14, 2017 [5 favorites]

I like Mass Effect, but I don't like having to chit chat with every goddamn NPC in every goddamn spaceport.
posted by Brocktoon at 4:27 AM on October 15, 2017

So much good stuff out now... I'll have to check this out as well.
posted by Artw at 7:15 AM on October 15, 2017

I am pretty behind on this book, but I read the first arc as it came out. The art’s gorgeous and the writing is sublime. It’s super good.
posted by sleeping bear at 8:35 AM on October 15, 2017

in case you were wondering --"what are people missing out on, by having their brainspace forcibly occupied by the tremendous political campaign to pay attention to a bladerunner sequel?" this is that thing.
posted by eustatic at 10:35 AM on October 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

I adore Nguyen's work (Li'l Gotham almost single-handedly restored my faith in DC) so thanks for pointing me to this!
posted by Gin and Broadband at 1:49 PM on October 15, 2017

Just reading this now. This is an excellent piece of science fiction. Because it's watercolor, the visuals remind me a bit of Moonshadow, although the tone is quite different. Thanks for pointing this out.
posted by MythMaker at 2:30 PM on October 15, 2017

Image Comics, publisher of many sweet creator-owned titles.

Even though it's been 20 years it's still weird to me that Image, once home of the worst of edgy XTREME 90s garbage, is now home to a diverse array of critically-acclaimed indie darlings.
posted by Sangermaine at 9:16 AM on October 16, 2017

This looks good... for those who've read it what age range would this be acceptable for? Is it strictly an adult work or could a teen or younger kid get into it?
posted by Ashwagandha at 4:35 PM on October 17, 2017

There's no sex, but there is a fair amount of violence and death and sadness. 12 or 13 is when I personally might have been into it.
posted by 4th number at 7:45 PM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

Just read a bunch of it on Hoopla.. there is a brief sex scene but no nudity. Plenty of violence, amazing art, something of a what if Star Wars took the plight of droids seriously type of work.
posted by mikhuang at 12:25 AM on October 19, 2017 [1 favorite]

Is it strictly an adult work or could a teen or younger kid get into it?

Probably not for younger kids, but might be ok for teens.

I've really gotten into Lemire's work these past few years... Bloodshot, Descender, Royal City, and my personal favorite comic right now, Black Hammer.
posted by FarOutFreak at 10:36 PM on October 30, 2017