Dead Space is a 2008 comic series acting as a prequel to the original Dead Space video game which was released in 2008 under Image Comics. The comic issues consist of #1-6 with Anthony Johnston as the writer and Ben Templesmith as the artist. On the distant mining colony of Aegis VII, miners discover a mysterious artifact that begins driving the miners insane. Security officer Bram Neumann finds himself caught between religious fervor and the machinations of the mining corporation itself as he races against time to discover the secrets of the Marker.

The story starts off with a recording of the main protagonist, setting up what we know is going to be a disaster. The story goes a really good pace, giving us a good look into the routine of the characters and how it is upended with the discovery of the Marker over the course of five weeks. I like the way the story is framed. It starts off as science fiction, then becomes psychological, then goes to straight up horror. It does go at good pace, but the slow start allows for the tension to rise as the story progresses. It’s a good read with a lot of entertaining bits, particularly after issue 3 with the discovery of the Marker and the rise of the religious fanatics.

I liked Bram. I thought he was an understandable character; I understood his motivations. I liked that he was the voice of reason among all the chaos. I really liked Marla as well, she was smart and resourceful. There are some characters that stand out better than others. I did like Cortez but would’ve liked to have seen more of a struggle with her devotion to her beliefs and her loyalty to P-Sec. I liked Tom Sciarello and how he generally was concerned for the people affected. The main antagonist on the corporate side being Captain Mathius and Hanford Carthusia and on the Deakin Abbott as the speaker of Unitology. The story and characters worked for me. (3 out of 5)

The artstyle itself is decent and I don’t have a problem with Ben Templesmith’s presentation. I’m not really of fan of it but that doesn’t mean that it was hard the follow. There’s a good dark overtone that actually gives the setting a pretty isolating and depressing look. It’s like a strange ambiance of desperation which helps emphasize dark tone. You can see why the characters are so desperate to believe in the Marker. Also, there are different tones for different scenes. While they’re in the lounge the scenes are cast in light blue, the doctor’s office is cast in brown, in the Union Square is cast in green, and when they’re outside its dark blues and grays just to show a few examples.

The character designs are…like I said isn’t bad, but I don’t like this type of artstyle. The characters lack enough detail to differentiate them from each other. There were several points I got characters mixed up. It reminds me of the 30 Days of Night comic, which is good, but I really like how well the color schemes were. And that extends to this comic. The coloring and paneling are great. I do like the look of the necromorphs. Templesmith does a good job of focusing on the creatures in motion. Of their constant hunt for new victims, the savagery of their movements captured brilliantly. When things get going there’s plenty of blood and gore. The art is good despite my reservations. (3 out of 5)

The writing isn’t particularly scary, but it’s decent. The language is steady and as things intensify the language gets harsh (and for good reason). I do like that the comic (and the series as a whole) touch on the idea of religion and God, and just the blind faith and fanaticism of people. It’s an interesting psychological study and how it’s written here. Outside of the Dead Space franchise this was a pretty typical in terms of space horror like Aliens (1986), Event Horizon (1997), Ghosts of Mars (2001).

I do like that the writing does focus on people as a villainous force as well. First, there’s the company that alludes to knowing the effects of the Marker and still proceeding with it as well as the religious zealots who worship and kill for it. It’s awesome seeing how that mentality reflects that of our society. And if you’re a fan of the violence and gore, when the final act kicks off, there’s plenty of it. The scenes become chaotic, the deaths are brutal, just the violence you love about Dead Space. I thought the writing was decent. (3 out of 5)

The Verdict: Dead Space is a solid read and a good addition to the franchise. Really the few issues I had with the comic was the artstyle but it wasn’t bad just not my cup on tea. I liked the story and the setup, the characters, the paneling, it’s violent and brutal, and the overall writing. Dead Space gets 4 out of 5.