First, there were a number of independent Comic Book publishers at MegaCon 2003. I glance through a lot of them, but here's a review on what I consider the best of the lot:
Astounding Space Thrills: The Convention Comics #1 Written and Illustrated by Steve Conley 24 pages B&W interior with color cover. $2.00 cover price - Free at MegaCon 2003 Published by Day One Comics Website http://www.astoundingspacethrills.com
The plot in brief: A globbin steals the extremely valuable stone of Xebrob and attempts to sell it on the black market. Our hero Argosy Smith with his sidekicks Thermin and Bloop the space monkey attempt to retrieve the stolen stone and return it to the authorities.
Spoiler Space.....
The plot is simple enough, but what makes this comic tick is the excellent storytelling, solid art and constant snickering side gags. Conely continues to refer to an unscrupulous corporation know as "Microshaft", and we all knowingly know about whom he is talking! The gag with a piece of what looks like paper hooked to electrical test equipment, then when you zoom in you see complex micro-machinery and find out the supposed paper is generating enough power for an entire section of space. These gags and many others provide a rich story as you speed along on a journey with the characters. Conley introduces big and small characters with depth and details so that you feel invited in to their world. I won't give away the ending except to say it is very inventive, plausible, and entertaining.
The story is reminiscent of the 1930's movie serials, but this one has considerably more humor and gags. It also has some very good "Casablanca" type storytelling thrown in. The art is very good. People, aliens, and technology fit together in a smooth, continuous world. There is a good amount of background, detail where it is needed, and a very smooth flowing story. Conley draws the off plot gags in small boxes and the main plot in larger boxes to help keep you focused on the main plot.
All in all this is an excellent comic. Twenty pages of new story and a four page backup story on the origin of Argosy Smith. The comic is dedicated to the seven Columbia astronauts that lost their lives Feb 2003. Photo of the astronauts is in the inside rear cover with the caption "Dedicated to All the Real Space Heroes".
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