Let me start by saying that this is the first time that I’ve ever read a Mars Attacks book. Just so you can see where I’m coming from here. I have always been intrigued by the kind of books that IDW puts out. A lot of franchise stuff. They definitely have a target audience. No more than any other publisher, I guess, but they’re definitely not trying to hide it. They operate like a publisher who is proud of their audience. That is pretty freaking admirable.

Now that all being said, this is not my first time reading something by Chris Ryall. I read Groom Lake. Loved it. Had a kind of X-Files feel to it, but in a good way, and not the cliché, predictable, and negative way that most people take that. So yes, regardless of my limited experience with him as a writer, I am a fan. So I guess that I shouldn’t be surprised with how much I enjoyed Mars Attacks: First Born. You know why I liked it? Because once I reached the end of it, I had an overwhelming feeling of “what the heck is going to happen now?” This was a very interesting story, and I’m curious where it will take me. Curious with a sense of ready danger.

The Martians have left the earth after waves of devastating attacks. But not without leaving behind an infant of their own species. Now unofficially adopted by a man and his niece, it seems that this little Martian will embark on a dangerous and exciting adventure with its new best friend, Clare, who was actually blinded in the attack that brought this little baby to Earth in the first place. Where will these characters end up? No Idea.

I enjoyed how this issue was written basically in narrative form. From Clare’s point of view. I really get into stories like that. I tend to write that way myself, actually. It almost reads like a one-shot. I really wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger. So when it hit me, it actually made me that much more curious, in a good way. Usually I come from the position of, “They could have just ended it there.” So that was a nice surprise. Really nice work, Chris. I was completely sucked in.

Now this was, admittedly, my first time seeing Sam’s work, that I know of. I looked him up. I’ve apparently missed some stuff. Sorry, man. But I was really impressed. I’m convinced that he was the best choice for this book. His art pulled me into a story that I probably would have passed on if I had just heard the title. So I’m glad that I’m more of a visual person now that I’ve gotten older. Some of those images were pretty creepy. Nicely done.

If judges sentenced good things, and I was one of those judges, I would sentence you to read this book if I could. I promise that I don’t mean that to sound like a punishment. So like I said, if judges sentenced good things.

Score: 5/5

Writer: Chris Ryall Artist: Sam Kieth Publisher: IDW Publishing Price: $3.99 Release Date: 5/14/14 Format: Mini-Series, Print/Digital