Black Science #7

written by Rick Remender
art by Matteo Scalera
painted art by Dean White

For every new world, another cold open.  Black Science's alien worlds continue to be a glorious cacophony zoological and fantastical influences fused in a crucible of historical and sci-fi milieux.  From the skull-littered dungeon kitchens of eyeless raptor overlords, little more than yawning maws with razor teeth and eager tongues, Rebecca, Shawn, Pia and Nate are trussed for consumption at a festival feast, set to be eaten raw and alive.  The pillar has again been unkind.

But, on the heels of McKay's death and his deathbed promise to his scientist rival, this is now Kadir's story.  Unlike McKay's unbridled idealism rooted in his own ego, Kadir's more than personally aware of the inevitable cost of things.  Like keeping promises.  The pillar is not an instrument of solving his world's problems, but of collapsing and compounding the problems of all worlds.  But now, he may very well be warming to being, wanting to be the hero.

Kadir, with a smirk:  Who's a sleazy shitbag now, huh?

Shawn:  You are!  You're the sleazy shitbag!

Kadir, once again stern:  Fair enough.  Take the hatchet--get the others free-- --and hold on tight.  (Black Science #7: 10)

Black Science #7 is primarily an escape thriller, a break-neck getaway in a chariot pulled by a fish-horse with ostrich legs being chased by a giant, flying, sea-spewing hippopotamus.  But it is also laced with interdimensional mystery.  Nearly at their death, a telepathic centipede prophet, one of three sporting the same onion logo that keeps following the space-hoppers through their worlds, proclaims their importance before he is devoured by the ravenous feasters:  "No!  Walk this dream with open eyes!  Hitchhikers passing through the winding ways--you bring us emancipation!  Calm your minds, good travelers!  Die here and live within the unbounded avatars!  Know it in your hearts--this service is our choice!  You have played a significant role in the unfolding!  Be proud!  Be--" (6).  Though it is unlikely to manifest in this particular world, there's a persistent flavor of revolutionary destiny about them.