Retrospective: Six From Sirius (1984)
... a mind conceives.
The Sirius Six is a large saucer ship from the Sirius Swarm, the largest human interplanetary federation in the galaxy. Its crew of six "freelance troubleshooters" are captain Jakota Lone, weapons specialist Starn, computer wizard Zematin (and her "solenoid soul"), explosives expert (and loquacious poet) Skreed, psychologist, anthropologist and diplomat LaMasque and grease monkey Grod (a green-skinned Rakosian).
They receive a mission from Sirius Hub; to rescue an ambassador from an impenetrable space prison manned by deadly robot guards ('fax-men'). All in a day's work for this resourceful bunch...
Six From Sirius, by writer Doug Moench and artist Paul Gulacy is a four-part series by a duo who worked together on Marvel's Master of King Fu in the Seventies. Here we have the same adventure saga feel, with a resounding Space 1999/Blakes Seven visual vibe. Like those iconic sci-fi TV shows, this has a similar surreal shine with occasional detours into some very trippy spiritual/mystical territory.
What follows is a retro delight; outlandish costumes, exotic hairstyles, fashions from eras that time forgot (there is no indication of when this story is set, but the green guy has a moustache, so disco is obviously still all the rage on his planet). If nostalgia is your thing, dive in, baby. In the spirit of Star Trek's original series, the galaxy is populated by legions of nubile young women in dance-of-the-seven-veils, Laurence of Arabia-style harem-dancer outfits. Space, the final frontier was, in those days, a metaphor for the great unexplored world of more permissive cultures.
But back to the story. Our intrepid heroes ingeniously break into the space prison to rescue the beautiful but icy ambassador who, it turns out, has no interest in being rescued, thank you very much.... What is going on? Here the narrative launches into action as the gang race to stay one step ahead of disaster. A complex web of hidden plans and motives emerges as they battle for survival.
Gulacy's art is top notch: expressive, naturalistic characters, dramatic lighting and exhaustively rich detail (the ship interior shots are joyfully complex backdrops of panels, lights, screens, switches, buttons, shiny surfaces, gadgets and gizmos.) Alien landscapes and futuristic cities are likewise beautifully rendered. The fax-men are wonderfully sinister, gleaming silver insectoid creations. The style takes in many elements from previous decades, bridging 1930s Amazing Stories covers to 1980s Battlestar Galactica, creating a vibrant classic feel.
Each character has a unique personality, which adds great depth to the story: ambassador Phaedra is haughty on the surface but she is an esper with a sensitivity that she keeps well guarded; Skreed, with his redbeard pirate look and never-ending lyrical pronouncements, is comic relief with a romantic flourish. Zematin's affinity for computers makes her the geek of the bunch, but she nevertheless has secret affections for one of her teammates.
This is a generous offering from an excellent duo, to be enjoyed by readers of any 'vintage'; rewarding even without an appreciation of the nostalgic atmosphere. Evocative yet original, it stands well-placed among the entertaining space operas of any era.
SIX FROM SIRIUS from DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
Zak Webber
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