Blastosaurus #1

by Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones

A book that recently hit the digital comics environment, Blastosaurus comes from a pair of writers, Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones. They come into the medium with a story that seems to hit as many genres as it has characters in its first issue. Some of what Blastosaurus #1 manages to include is dinosaurs, time travel, crime-noir, and a cast of kids who seem play a much larger role some time later in the future. It’s not all the clear in the outset, but that is not to say the issue is to be overlooked. Instead, it shows just how ambitious Fairgray and Jones are, and it paves the way for a lot of opportunities as the series unfolds.

In the first few pages, the story changes time as well as characters and narrators, shifting only the backing color of the text box or hue of the panels to give indication that the present panel occurs separately from the previous. It is possible, especially as readers have little to grasp to in the first pages of a brand new title, that this may be a bit frustrating. After a few pages though, the story evens out a bit more, and the story becomes much clearer. The ideas for the story are pretty interesting, and as the first issue wraps up, readers will be quite curious just how this situation came to be, and where in the world things are headed.

Fairgray not only helps script the story, but also is the series artist. The art is lively and youthful and brings a real great energy to this unique tale. Scientist, Jasper Meadon begins to recount the events that have recently transpired. Meadon, along with several others were part of a team, sent back in time to the age of dinosaurs to conduct some experiments. Both in this era, and mirrored in the future timeline, it appears as though the Velociraptor, or Raptors, are the villains. Scientists were injecting these creatures with some chemical that transforms them into some humanoid mutation, leaving them the ability to walk and speak like human beings.

Some of the best moments in the series center on the title character, a big green dinosaur, who has found his way into the future in search of these Raptors. Fairgray and Jones write a few excellent exchanges that play out as a great homage to crime noir and are all the more comical when populated by a trench coat-wearing triceratops. It is in these moments that the first issue really shines. Additionally, the colors of Blastosaurus are incredibly vibrant. As of yet, the introduction and inclusion of the group of children seems cloudy. And, amidst all of the other elements of issue one, it tends to make this first chapter feel a bit overcrowded. It is a bit of a rocky opening issue, but shows a lot of promise from some new names.

Blastosaurus teases a plethora of avenues and looks to be very light hearted. Hopefully its second issue irons some of its problems out a bit more. If so, it is quite likely that Blastosaurus will find its audience.