Review: GR-8
Nine year old Cal is bored. He lives on the Galaxy Runner 8 starship with his parents, which is pretty cool, except he never gets to leave the ship. He makes friends with Red, a young alien resembling a rhinoceros, and together they plan to 'borrow' an E-pod shuttle and explore the new planet the GR-8 has just arrived at. They'll be back before anyone knows it's gone..
What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, of course! The two youngsters are soon embroiled in plots and piracy and find themselves under fire from - it seems - everyone with an energy weapon. All is not rosy in the garden of the Union, and the boys have stumbled right into the middle of a huge conspiracy. Accompanied by security chief Aziva (armed with her energy blade weapon) and a fugitive former GR captain Roark, they are fighting for their lives on a very inhospitable planet. The stakes are raised even higher when Cal's parents are framed as traitors and thrown off the ship ... only to be sold into slavery.
GR-8 by writer Stephen Tramontana and artist David Pentecost is a rollicking, fast-paced space adventure for readers of all ages. In the grand tradition of 'Boy's Own' adventure tales, our protagonists are children who are plunged into intrigue and danger but, by their bravery and ingenuity, manage to come out on top.
Cal has no friends on the ship until he meets Red, who appears to be an orphan (and the only member of his species on board) and who is likewise friendless. Cal is impetuous and not afraid of taking risks, whereas Red is shy, introverted and timid. This is an odd couple pairing of the rebellious kid with the chubby nerd, both of whom should know better... Nevertheless, Red allows the human boy to persuade him to use his technical skills to break the rules and venture into the great unknown... a decision they quickly begin to regret.
The story is a full-on fun romp with some very colourful characters illustrated with Pentecost's energetic cartoon style: cactus-man bounty hunters, fearsome space whales, a pirate with a fish in a bowl for a head (and one octopus-headed pirate in a little hommage to a certain movie franchise), fights, explosions, jet-packs and gags...
Central to the narrative is the friendship between the two boys, forged under the pressure of surviving one hazard after another. There are many bumps along the road but a little nerve and faith in each other gets them through.
Cal dreams of being a captain one day. Red wants to find his missing parents. It is clear there are many more adventures in store for the intrepid duo as they continue their journey through the galaxy. It will be tough, but if they learn to believe in each other - and in themselves - can anything stop them?
GR-8 on Kickstarter
Zak Webber
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