Omega #3 - Cutaway Comics

OMEGA No. 3, July 2021

Featuring a much more prominent presence of this mini-series’ titular antagonist, Mark Griffith’s script for Issue Three of “Omega” probably wrong-footed many of its readers on several occasions, as the comic’s plot arguably delivers surprise after surprise in its efforts to depict “the terrifying extent” of the rogue Time Lord’s nefarious plan for intergalactic vengeance. Indeed, it’s debatably difficult to imagine much more of a rollercoaster ride than the one this twenty-four page publication’s comedy playwright presents as Princess Malika “and her ragtag companions” bravely battle against the gun-toting forces of mass-murdering politician Oxrigi in outer space.

Admittedly, in subverting the expectations of its audience this book does contain a number of shocking deaths, not least of which is the Minyos King suicidally piloting his damaged Concorde-like space-liner straight into the planet’s upper atmosphere so as to save his city’s population. But such a flurry of fatal bombshells quickly establishes a heightened sense of nervousness in the reader whenever it comes time to peruse a new panel, as it’s never clear just which character is still going to be left standing; “Just when you make peace with the universe you suddenly find you’re not dying after all!”

In addition, these twists and turns also help create a palpable sense of sheer desperation in the comic's quite sizeably-sized cast. This pulse-pounding panic is probably best seen during Malika’s reckless raid upon Oxrigi’s battle cruiser following the destruction of her own vessel. One moment the princess is helplessly floating through the airless vacuum of space unable to activate her cellular renewal, and in the next her golden automaton is emotionlessly gunning down a ship full of guards after punching its way through the hull’s airlock and helping her aboard.

Ultimately however, much of this magazine’s success arguably rests with John Ridgway’s layouts, which definitely provide it with both the look and feel of Alex Raymond’s space adventure comic strip “Flash Gordon” from the Thirties. The British illustrator’s excellently envisaged mentally-powered mind-war between Kyril and Minyos’ homicidal ruler is particularly well-pencilled, as both combatants transform themselves into a number of unusual life-forms in an effort to outthink their opponent and extinguish their life force without "a crumb of dignity."

The regular cover art of "OMEGA" #3 by Silvano Beltramo