Errand Boys #2 - Image Comics

ERRAND BOYS No. 2, November 2018

Firmly focusing upon Jace Lopaz’s first interstellar errand with his younger half-brother, Tawnk, D.J. Kirkbridge’s narrative for Issue Two of “Errand Boys” must have had a fair share of its 2,957 strong audience repeatedly face-palming themselves in humorous horror at some of the monumentally poor decisions the “hard-worn scoundrel” makes, and then laughing out loud at the fun-packed consequences of those self-same catastrophic choices. In fact, the thirty-year-old human makes such a complete mess of his mission to “land on dumpy planet, snag baby bird-thing, bring it back to old Ebb, [and] collect money” that it’s incredible to believe the delivery man has managed to survive amidst the vastness of space single-handedly for as many years as he already has; “What’s this bit about Mauslio being the preferred campground for dirt pirates..?”

Fortunately however, such a complete disregard for the safety, legality and even morality of any given situation allows the American author to conjure up a plethora of truly amusing set-pieces for this comic’s audience to enjoy, whether it be simply young Tawnk being violently ill in the cockpit of his guardian’s spaceship following its sling-shot launch, an exhilarating flight for freedom from the custody of law enforcement officer Bradley, or a glorious foot-chase across a deadly planet with naught for protection but a “water-damaged cardboard box and tape.” These continuous calamities really do a great job of quickly endearing the young, blue-skinned alien to this book’s bibliophiles, and also, surprisingly, produce a similar response concerning Jace, despite the so-called responsible caretaker’s somewhat callous incompetence.

Adding to this charming concoction of high-risk jinks and pulse-pounding pursuits, are Nikos Koutsis’ excellent layouts, which are simply packed full of detail and geek-related trivia. Indeed, the Greek artist’s sense-shattering space race to evade the long arm of the inter-galactic law is worth this comic’s cover price alone, courtesy of some superb cameos by a time-travelling British Police Telephone Box, a distinctly Corellian-looking damaged light freighter, an Imperial Star Destroyer, the partially-recognisable remains of a Tie-Fighter, and a certain Constitution-class Federation starship.

Perhaps this publication’s most poignant piece though is its remarkably well titled “Look Out! It’s A Backup Story”, which really helps bring the plight of the significantly endangered Vazgogs into sharp relief. Unable to do anything more than watch her mate be brutally gunned down by an ambushing posse of pirates, this tear-jerker of a tale depicts both the sheer emotional anguish felt by the main story's lead antagonist, as well as the birth of the baby bird the Lopaz brothers have disagreeably abducted from its distraught mother.

Written by: D.J. Kirkbride, and Drawn & Colored by: Nikos Koutsis