For the want of more power bands, Space Ghost is going to have go head to lack-of-head with Metallus! But what is the armored villain’s terrible secret? Your Major Spoilers review of Future Quest Presents #3 awaits!
FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS #3
Writer: Jeff Parker
Artist: Ariel Olivetti
Colorist: Ariel Olivetti
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Editor: Marie Javins
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Previously in Future Quest Presents: “The secret behind Metallus’ horrific appearance is revealed… and the Space Force is to blame! Can Space Ghost and his team of allies stop Metallus and his men from taking their revenge and destroying the galaxy in the process?
Or is this truly the end for our heroes?
A HORRIBLE ORIGIN
This issue reveals the origins of Metallus, the man who always seemed to be wearing armor: He is, in fact, a disembodied electromagnetic ghost inhabiting the shell of his armor. And he got that way by being slowly digested by troglostars, alien creatures that live in the caves where Element Zeo is mined. Metallus is barely in possession of his facilities, but has enough wherewithal to order his men to bind Space Ghost, Jan and Jayce and leave them to be turned into phantoms, instead heading for Voranova, the seat of power for The Space Force…
…whooooo were destroyed by Omnikron in the previous Future Quest mini. Finding that his old grudge is as much dead as himself, Metallus attacks Space Ghost (who escaped thanks to Blip, The Space Monkey) only to get dispersed into the winds by his own rage and hubris.
“POWER IS NOTHING WITHOUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO WIELD IT.”
As the issue end, Space Ghost and his charges have the ore they need and set off to rebuild the Space Force to bring peace and safety to the galaxy with a little help from giant rock apes and such. The art is this issue is once again amazing, but once again Olivetti’s detailed painted style works against the simplicity of the Alex Toth designs. (Last issue had less of that problem, but issue #1 had tons of style dissonance because of it.) Parker’s script is kind of ingenious, putting logical motivations behind Metallus and Space Ghost himself, something that was often missing in the original cartoon. This story also treats space as a dangerous place full of danger, monsters and potential death, something that I very much appreciate.
THE BOTTOM LINE: STILL PRETTY SOLID, STILL AN ART MISMATCH
Even though I’m not sold on this art style for this character, the creators deliver an attractive story and strong layouts, though I once again notice and dislike the shiny/silky textures of the coloring, leaving Future Quest #3 with a better-than-average 3.5 out of 5 stars overall. With so many H-B action heroes to choose from, I’m looking forward to what Future Quest Presents has to offer in coming issues…
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