Dark Horse’s Radio Spaceman #1 (of 2) combines turn-of-the-20th-century decor and mechanical devices with rockets and other planets. It puts the dial phone and electric typewriter next to vacuum tubes and hissing hoses.

It all starts off like A Christmas Carol, the 1951 version with Alistair Sim. Scrooge, in his poster bed, all curtained off in a large room. But Radio Spaceman, a steampunk-styled sci-fi drama, differs from the classic in a big way, and Yule want to read it!

A ship has crash-landed on a mysterious planet. When Scrooge, oops, I mean: Radio Spaceman investigates, he finds more happening than planned, more insanity and bug-eyed monsters than you can shake a stick at!

Mike Mignola writes a twisting, anachronistic tale that feels fresh and new, always reinventing and repurposing the fragments of gold and precious words and scenes. It’s retro, steamy, and punky, it’s kooky, it’s moody. But above all, with Greg Hinkle’s strong and angular line work, and Dave Stewart’s steady, cohesive colouring hand, (Fantastic letters by Clem Robins!!) this is a recommended book. Catch up with it now, there are only two issues.

Dark Horse, Radio Spaceman #1 (of 2), $3.99 for 22 pages of content

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!