On the Rack: Caliban #1

In my humble opinion, good science fiction is defined by its humanity. It needs to have relatable characters in situations that evoke emotions that are recognizable to the audience. Caliban fits this definition perfectly; as a science-fiction horror story, the reader needs to invest in the characters to establish a sense of danger.  In this first issue, writer Garth Ennis works to establish the cast of dynamic characters that the reader can relate to. He successfully creates a cast of characters that are all too familiar, they feel like people you know, people who we encounter every day.

Ennis is a master of dark and damaged characters and the crew of the Caliban is no exception, their personalities are revealed through their banter and the danger they encounter. A journal kept by the system’s officer, the conversations she has with the ship’s mechanic and their griping about the navigator all reveal far more about life on the Caliban then a narrator ever could. They are sarcastic, petty, jealous, and stubborn; none of them feel heroic, they are all refreshingly real people. Ennis manages to balance the technical elements of working in deep space with their personalities and create a full picture of the lives they live and what is at stake.

As I was growing more invested in the characters and enjoying their interactions, the story suddenly took a twist. Ennis does not shy away from gore or violence and as a result the atmosphere on the Caliban takes a dramatic turn. The ship that was their home feels like a prison and the danger that the crew face is imminent, I was surprised by how concerned I was for the characters after only knowing them for a few short pages. Overall, Caliban #1 is an excellent set up for the rest of the series, the well-developed characters will make you invest in the emerging danger and will add a human element to the horrors they experience.