Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!
Publisher: Epic Comics
Cover Date: 1992
Cover Price: $2.50
Writer: Katsuhiro Otomo
Artist: Katsuhiro Otomo
Three pilots uncover a signal in deep space and are lured in by its mysterious call. Nearing the beacon’s source, they find a rose-shaped conglomeration consisting of abandoned ships. Inside, the astronauts are greeted by familiar objects and met by AI servants. Continuing their journey, they discover the ship’s secret as a magnetic storm unleashes the AI servants against them! Can they escape before becoming part of this rose-shaped “ghost ship”?
This story holds an incredible sense of wonder and mystery. Told from the perspective of the investigators, we discover everything as they do. Without any previous knowledge, speculation runs wild as to the true origin of the rose-shaped hulk. The art is a great combination of manga with “western sensibilities” and the ending is wonderfully open-ended allowing the reader to make his own determination. My only complaint is that the one-shot format is not nearly enough to deepen the investigation, missing a chance at increasing the sense of mystery.
On Ebay: Katsuhiro Otomo