Let’s talk about ComiXology Originals, which I believe sometimes gets a bad rap. Once upon a time, ComiXology was a fantastic place to find indie comics in digital format. A couple of years ago, in many fans’ eyes, Amazon eliminated the standalone app and merged everything into its Kindle app. The website was merged with the regular Amazon site, and finding known comics, such as Fantastic Four Vol. 1, is not an easy task because, more often than not, it is difficult to find a particular comic.
If Amazon/ComiXology has a hard time finding something like the Fantastic Four, you can imagine how hard it is to find indie comics. Even their ComiXology Unlimited is hard to navigate, which has led to some great alternatives, like Global Comix, the best place for indie comics. Many fans are no longer fans of Comixology.
I believe that fan bias extends to their line of comic books under ComiXology Originals, which began in 2018 with digital comic books that can be read through the Kindle app. If you’re a Prime Member, you can read them for free. However, many fans still don’t read digital comics despite Originals featuring some top talent, such as Scott Snyder, Tim Seeley, and Tyler Cook.
Another problem is that there are so many comics released each month, making it often difficult to fit new comics into our monthly reading. I read around two hundred new comics each month, and there are usually quite a few I never get around to reading because I haven’t figured out how to make a 24-hour day into 36.
Quite by chance, I connected with writer Omar Morales, who may not be someone you recognize, but I think he’s someone you will. He’s done The Lunar Ladies, Scout Comics, “California Love” for Mad Cave Studios’ LA Strong anthology, and Major Thomás from ComiXology Originals.
It’s challenging to write a review for Major Thomás simply because it’s a fantastic read. It’s uniquely different from most comics I’ve recently read, and I find it hard to find the right words to describe how amazed you’ll be once you read the graphic novel.
It tells the story of Thomás Mùnoz, a Mexican-Americanfarmworker who rises to become a NASA astronaut and humanity’s first hyperspace traveler. Though he has reached his ultimate goal, Thomás wrestles with anxiety and imposter syndrome. His journey takes a perilous turn when he becomes stranded in deep space, caught in an intergalactic war between fierce reptoids and ruthless robots. As he fights for survival, he draws strength from the cultural wisdom instilled by his mother and the support of his love interest, Lisa, who leads NASA’s efforts to bring him home. Even that brief overview doesn’t say much because it covers a lot of ground and takes everything in unexpected directions.
The story features many great characters, and their story effortlessly jumps between Thomas’s childhood and his adventures in space. And, like every hero—there’s a girl. Lisa was waiting for him. All the characters grow and change over time, and where they end up is both surprising and makes sense.
Discussing the comic isn’t complete without mentioning the artist, Serg Acuña. You might have seen his work in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Nightwing, or Birds of Prey, but here—WOW! His work is fantastic, and he puts a great deal of detail and care into each page. And it doesn’t matter if he’s doing a slice-of-life page or some space battle. Each page pops, making you want to keep reading.
Another plus is that it’s an all-ages story. And I mean it in every sense of the word, especially for someone who isn’t into comic books. Looking for something different that draws you into some fantastic characters and story—you get it all here. It is one of my favorite reads of the year because it is so distinct from anything else I’ve read. I think that’s because you can’t pigeonhole it into a particular genre, as it has a little bit of everything for everyone.
About Author
