Missing On The Moon #4 - Mad Cave Studios

MISSING ON THE MOON No. 4, April 2025

Seeming to forget several of this mini-series’ major plot-threads, most notably the fact that Daniel Schwinn was specifically called in by the lunar law enforcement agency to investigate the disappearance of poor Penny, Cory Crater’s narrative for Issue Four of “Missing On The Moon” must surely have left many a reader scratching their heads at its illogical conclusion. Indeed, the very notion that Osborne Scott would hire the private investigator to look into the case, even though the senior policeman was well aware of Senator Brooks’ satellite-wide drugs ring, as well as the numerous child abductions, makes very little sense; “I line their pockets, and they keep things hush hush.”

Similarly as disconcerting has to be the author’s revelation that this title’s storyline was triggered by the young school girl inconveniently ‘following her daddy to work’, and presumably discovering just how deep in the illegal narcotics industry the American politician was. Such a ghastly decision to end his own daughter’s life rather than trust her not to talk would potentially have given the elderly statesman a compelling backstory. But in this comic, the white-haired senator disappointingly just cold-heartedly writes the kid off as “a liability”, and even bemoans the fact that her corpse wasn’t disposed of correctly.

Perhaps this book’s biggest problem however, comes with the almost buddy-buddy relationship Schwinn suddenly develops with Alina. The gumshoe has just accidentally gunned down the terrorist’s long-lost brother, and recently been transformed by the woman into a blue-skinned Darksider with a toxic injection. Yet in this twenty-two page periodical’s plot, the pair work together like they’ve been best friends/partners for years, and almost effortlessly take down Brook’s massive “Stardust” empire with just a smattering of bullets.

What does work though is Damian Couceiro’s pulse-pounding pencils, which genuinely capture all the cynicism and grittiness of a harsh, unfair life, where the divide between the rich and poor could not be much greater. In addition, the aforementioned assault upon the Senator’s drug factory is incredibly well-sketched, with Patricio Delpeche’s colours causing the heat from its furnace to genuinely rise off the printed page, and Daniel’s dramatic death appearing suitably poignant for a man haunted by his own offspring’s tragic demise.

Writer: Cory Crater, Artist: Damian Couceiro, and Color Artist: Patricio Delpeche

Missing On The Moon #3 - Mad Cave Studios

MISSING ON THE MOON No. 3, March 2025

It’s probably a fairly safe bet that many of this mini-series’ readers were wondering just where Cory Crater’s narrative was going to go next, having read his somewhat rambling narrative for Issue Three of “Missing On The Moon”. True, the “emerging author in comics and graphic novels” certainly seems to be composing a rollercoaster of a ride for his audience when Daniel Schwinn suddenly discovers he’s been physically transformed into a blue-skinned Darksider at the start of this instalment. But by the end of the book’s twenty-two page storyline, many a bibliophile will doubtless be querying the persuasiveness of a plot which seems to make some disconcertingly large leaps in logic so as to progress its overarching storyline.

Foremost of these bemusements has to be Osborne Scott’s unconvincing role in all of this title’s political subterfuge, terrorist attacks and adolescent mass murders. The writer never explains how the overweight police commander somehow survived the deadly ambush deep inside the moon’s ice mines – nor indeed how the law enforcement agency was even attacked underground – Yet having managed to return to his offices alive, he then spends a significant portion of this publication blaming his former friend for betraying the authorities to Sidhe’s rebellion, even though he knows damn well that isn’t the case.

To make matters even more confusing though, it’s subsequently revealed that the huge droid Oz ordered to act as Schwinn’s bodyguard is actually the department’s perfidious mole, having somehow been reprogrammed by Alina at some unknown point to do her bidding. Such a revelation is certainly shocking. However, it arguably makes as much sense as Daniel’s uncharacteristic naivety in believing that if he gives the extremist’s Scott, they’ll somehow prove to the world that he wasn’t a traitor after all – even though in doing so he’ll become precisely the double-crosser he pathetically pleads he is not; “Do me this favour and I’ll get you whatever you and your cronies desire… access to L.D.S. weapons, intel… just name it.”

Far more convincing than this comic’s penmanship is its layouts by Damian Couceiro. Coupled with Patricio Delpeche’s sombre palette of colours, the illustrator’s pencilling is predominantly first-rate, with the horror of Schwinn’s conversion into a Darksider proving particularly palpable. Likewise, the artist’s handling of the pulse-pounding gunfight inside the Tankard Pub in Buzztown is truly exhilarating, with the rapidity of everyone’s weapon discharges almost leaping off of the printed panels.

Writer: Cory Crater, Artist: Damian Couceiro, and Color Artist: Patricio Delpeche

Missing On The Moon #2 - Mad Cave Studios

MISSING ON THE MOON No. 2, February 2025

Whilst Cory Crater’s narrative for Issue Two of “Missing On The Moon” quite surprisingly lacks much in the way of adrenaline-fuelled action, at least up until the American authorities descend upon the Soviet ice mines armed-to-the-teeth with assault rifles and bulky combat droids, it still somehow manages to race along at an exhilarating rate. In fact, many within this mini-series’ audience will be somewhat stunned as to just how quickly they come to this comic’s shell-shocking cliff-hanger; “But curiosity… It’s part of the trade. A box, once opened…may well be shut… but the contents therein cannot be unseen.”

Much of this twenty-two page magazine’s momentum is created by some seriously tense set-pieces, with Daniel Schwinn’s terrifying interrogation at the hands of the Darksiders’ leader revealing just how vulnerable the central character actually is on the oxygen-starved satellite. This particular scene also provides an excellent insight into all the built-up prejudices of the private investigator, as well as hints that he’s actually being used by the powers that be to protect a disconcertingly dark secret of theirs.

Likewise, this book does a great job in showing just how corrupt the American dream has clearly become on the moon, and that the portly, pony-tailed Oz is almost certainly up to his neck in it. The senior law enforcement officer clearly has great affection for his old friend, and genuinely appears eager to keep Schwinn safe. But once he realises that the detective has heard of Operation White Eye, there’s a distinct coldness in his cybernetic eye which suggests he knows far more about the lunar metropolis’ city-wide string of disappearing children than even Daniel can possibly imagine.

Considering just how much of this comic’s content is driven by packed word balloons and dialogue-heavy discussions, a lot of thanks for it’s pulse-pounding pace must also be given to Damian Couceiro’s layouts, which somehow manage to make all the talk flow at a tenacious tempo. Of particular note has to be the aforementioned clash between Sidhe and her dishevelled prisoner as she mercilessly injects his neck with a syringe of blue-coloured goop. However, the illustrator is also very good at showing the contrast between Buzztown’s absolutely bristling Lunar Defence Services building before Oz is informed of the Darksiders’ secret whereabouts, as well as its eerily empty offices once he does know and departs with his staff to bring the 'rebellion' to a bloody end.

Writer: Cory Crater, Artist: Damian Couceiro, and Color Artist: Patricio Delpeche

Missing On The Moon #1 - Mad Cave Studios

MISSING ON THE MOON No. 1, December 2024

Rather intriguingly feeling like a much more low-tech version of Ridley Scott’s dystopian future as seen in his 1982 science fiction movie “Blade Runner”, Cory Crater’s superb penmanship should certainly have held his audience’s attention throughout this twenty-one page periodical’s thought-provoking plot. Indeed, straight from the comic’s start it seems pretty clear that “washed-up private investigator Daniel Schwinn” is entering a serious world of pain when he accepts the task of discovering just what has happened to a billionaire’s missing daughter.

Furthermore, the well-paced storyline is also quite quick in establishing that anyone around the expletive-happy sleuth is also stepping straight into some cold-blooded killer’s firing line, and not even a huge, ruggedly constructed moon truck is large enough to protect its evidently prying occupants from almost being sent straight into orbit by a well-paced improvised explosive device; “Turns out these weren’t highwaymen. They were saboteurs. Professionals, politically motivated.” This palpable sense of danger genuinely adds to an already gripping atmosphere, and should cause many a bibliophile to hungrily ‘gobble up’ this publication’s series of thrilling set-pieces in their eagerness to establish just who is next on the Darksiders’ hit list.

Similarly as successful as Luna’s savagely barbaric community, has to be the screenwriter’s thought-provoking insights into the central protagonist himself. Schwinn is seemingly no pure-hearted angel. But a man perfectly capable of poisoning a drug addict with a score which has been “cut with rodenticide”, and apparently has little interest in rescuing poor Penny until the powers that be agree to pay him “double my ordinary rate”. These all-too evident flaws hint at a truly troubling past for the grubby-looking investigator, and strongly suggest whatever morals Daniel may have once had, cost him more than he can bear.

Lastly, illustrator Damian Couceiro, along with color artist Patricio Delpeche, prodigiously provide this comic with some strikingly sound visuals. Of particular note has to be the creative pair’s handling of Holloway’s last trip outside to the place where the moonraker “found the ballet flat.” This excursion onto the satellite's surface is actually incredibly word-heavy, thanks to the gumshoe’s repeated questioning of the circumstances surrounding the bizarre find. Yet, the various angles used to depict the conversation makes the discussion bound along at a healthy pace, before events turn particularly sour with a mighty explosion.

Writer: Cory Crater, Artist: Damian Couceiro, and Color Artist: Patricio Delpeche

Defenders Of The Earth #1 - Mad Cave Studios

DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH No. 1, August 2024

Starting with the final day of our planet’s war with Mongo in 2020 A.D., Dan Didio’s script for Issue One of “Defenders Of The Earth” probably initially pleased any fans of the 1986 American animated television series upon which this eight-part mini-series is apparently based. In fact, Mandrake the Magician and the Phantom’s deadly encounter with an army of “a thousand strong” Ice Soldiers makes for a riveting read as it becomes increasingly clear that the central protagonists probably aren’t going to survive the confrontation, even after Lothar appears to add some significant strength to their defence.

Sadly however, once this ‘flashback’ has concluded the comic’s narrative debatably nosedives into a bizarre, super sedentary series of set-pieces in which none of the main cast are particularly likeable, and very little in the way of action occurs – apart from an angry Rick Gordon loudly proclaiming to a packed restaurant that his father will be footing all of their meal bills; “Attention! Tonight’s dinner is courtesy of the Defenders of the Earth, and their great saviour, Flash Gordon.” This disappointing reduction of pace appears to have been adopted to allow the American author an opportunity to highlight the sinister corruption seeping into the world’s rejuvenated civilisation. But instead, just makes the titular characters appear selfish, high-handed, petty and shockingly surly.

In addition, the twenty-four page plot suddenly leaps from the intriguing suggestion that Alex Raymond’s creation may well be being diabolically misled by his political advisors to the replacement of a still badly-maimed “Ghost Who Walks” by the masked man's daughter and murderous brother in Bangalla. Many a bibliophile would probably expect such a key revelation to be a major turning point in the comic. Yet instead, it is almost haphazardly mentioned by Lothar as he’s leaving his injured friend, despite Mandrake’s assistant being in his company for some considerable time beforehand.

Sadly, Jim Calafiore’s layouts are arguably just as inconsistent as this book’s penmanship, with the artist’s later panels lacking much of the energy and conviction seen during the heroes’ early battle with Ming’s forces. Indeed, some of sequences concerning Rick’s trials and tribulations to see his father only look somewhat three-dimensional as a result of colorist Juancho’s shading, as opposed to anything the illustrator has actually sketched.

The regular cover art of "DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH" #1 by Jim Calafiore