The Last Space Race #4 Review

Writer: Peter Calloway

Artist: Alex Shibao

Rating: 7 of 8

The Last Space Race #4

Humankind is drawn to the unknown. We wonder - are there more animals yet to be discovered? Is there more under the sea than we know? Space. When it comes to the unknown, there's few as compelling. That's still the case today, whether in real life, or in fiction.

In The Last Space Race, America's once more racing toward the stars. It centres around tech billionaire Sasha Balodis and the crew of an outer space platform. They're heading for somewhere called the Morningstar, though I'd got the impression it was the moon due to Roger's line about Sasha trying to get a line as good as Neil Armstrong's.

If there was something I'd really praise, it'd be the issue's accessibility. I haven't read the previous issues, but I was able to easily understand this one. I don't think you can expect writers to write each issue as if someone isn't up to date, but it's definitely a good thing when newcomers can understand. 

In a flashback to 1983, we see Sasha's father, who's like a mix of Cyclops' father and Star-Lord in appearance. Shibao did very well here, notably with the snow, which was very striking. Even though he and his family are escaping from Latvia, when his father says they're going to 'the free world', it made me think of people trying to get out of Russia, like in An American Tail. Calloway really made me worry for the trio, even if I knew Sasha'd be ok.

This was being told to a psychologist, who'd decide whether he was mentally fit for this mission. I was a bit taken aback when she told him she didn't care when it came to this story, though I can understand this due to the importance of him being open, so she knows if he's fit for this mission.

Shibao's art is outstanding, which we can see in many instances. The use of shadows and light in Baoldis' psychology session was very impressive, as was the reflection on his visor of the thrusters firing up. The ending is simply breathtaking, both in writing and art. I'm really left wondering where things are going to go next issue. All of this combined makes it a great cliffhanger. This is a terrific issue that I'd heartily recommend to anyone.