REVIEW: RADIO SPACEMAN No.2 (OF 2) - Mission To Numa IV

The bookend to Radio Spaceman has literally everything. It’s as if Mike Mignola took everything from pop culture that ever inspired him and threw it on the easel for Greg Hinkle to take a stab at, and when Hinkle stabs the coagulation are mosaic’s that could only be more Marvelous if Morris Sackett popped up on a panel.

Kaijus, Blaxplotation, mechs, zombies, and so much more all in less than thirty pages. Mignola and Hinkle are a team that is able to pull off so much with so little, Radio Spaceman is the juxtaposition of an oxymoron. Moving at such a break neck speed that it is surprising to see that this book is still heavily descriptive within it’s dialogue.

Even with the self-indulgent splash panels, the art is more a showcase, rather than just trying to fill up space.
Speaking of space, with just two issues there is so much ground left uncovered for this story. If the Spaceman doesn’t get a sequel, then a spinoff with Doctor Azee would fit nicely in a pull box with Doctor Aphra.

Cartoony but grimey, with enough natural comedy that could earn this two-parter an animated adaptation on Adult Swim, “Radio Spaceman : Mission To Numa 4” , really cannot be the final mission. The book leaves it’s audience filled by the insatiable.

Just like the Spaceman and his avatar itself (a mech with a head like Ghost Rider in a Futurama human head tank operated by a man who looks like he belongs in a Futurama human head tank), Radio Spaceman is an oxymoron in comics, that would look great with more (legacy wise) though Mignola and Hinkle threw everything and the kitchen sink into this effort. If there was a successful animated series in the future spun off of this well of entertainment, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. Hey, it worked for Miller & Darrow with Big Guy & Rusty …

Score : 5/5

(W) Mike Mignola (A/CA) Greg Hinkle