“Star-Crossed #1” Review – A Cosmic Crossover For The Ages

The Run Down

In his latest addition to the Millarworld universe comes “Star-Crossed” a crossover run between “Sharkey the Bounty Hunter” and “Space Bandits.” If you’re new to the Millarworld comics universe, it includes the likes of “Wanted,” “Kick-Ass” “Supercrooks” and “The Kingsmen”, to name a few. Despite this, have no fear! “Star-Crossed #1” acts as a great introduction, not expecting you to have any prior knowledge. So, strap in and join me as we look at this interstellar first issue!

Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Corrado Mastantuono
Colorists: Corrado Mastantuono, Nisa Mastantuono

The Writing

It’s Mark Millar. With a legend such as him, you can almost always know you’re stepping into something fun, wacky, darkly satirical and great. As a fan of “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsmen” I’m completely unfamiliar with Millar’s sci-fi work and this is an amazing introduction to it!

Millar expertly lends his signature style to the genre and so far, it works perfectly. I had zero knowledge of the characters of Sharkey, Cody and Thena going in but I’m already in love with them. I particularly love the characters of Cody and Thena, our two female leads. They both feel very independent, strong and smart in their own ways. Where Thena is exceptional at thinking on her feet, Cody comes off as being a great planner who remains level-headed.

On the flip side, we have the Queen of Enough. She has got to be the most ruthless and vile villain I’ve seen in a long time. Where the antics of Cody & Thena give us the wacky and fun side of Millar’s writing, the Queen serves the darkly satirical. Oddly enough, the two sides work and balance each other perfectly!

The Art

Much like the writing of Mark Millar, the art and colors of Corrado and Nisa Mastantuono are an absolute wonder to behold. While reading, I couldn’t help but feel the vibes of things like “Cyberpunk” and “Space Balls.” A retro-future aesthetic dreamed up in the 1960s. As odd of a combo as that is, it’s one that works perfectly for the stylings of the story. Corrado himself gives everything so much character, making this world feel lived-in and constantly breathing.

The art is married beautifully by the colors of Nisa Mastantuono. The colors work to actively make everything come alive, making each setting feel distinct from the last. The rich, lavish golds and reds show wealth throughout the galaxy. Somewhat alternatively, the colors on our main characters show not just how far they’ve come in their stories but also work to show their personalities. The art and colors are truly magnificent work.

Final Thoughts

Mark Millar delivers once again in this interstellar sci-fi outing any fan of the genre will love! Whether you’ve been following the Millarverse or not, this is one that any reader can easily get sucked into. Helped by the exceptional work of Corrado and Nisa Mastantuono, “Star-Crossed” is on its way to being one of the great modern sci-fi romps.

Overall Grade: 10/10

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Comments

Are you a fan of the Millarverse? What are you hoping to see come from “Star-Crossed”? Let’s discuss in the comments below!