Space Riders #3

   Now that is a comic like no other.

   Space Riders feels like an artifact from another time - it has that raw, underground comic feel from the '70s.

   And I don't say that as a slam against it - despite the rampant destruction and excessive adult language on display, I couldn't stop smiling when I read this comic.

   It tells the story of three members of the rough-and-tumble group known as the Space Riders. The leader is Captain Peligro, a bearded space pirate (of sorts) who leads the Mandrill-like beast-man named Mono and the robotic female, Yara.

   The issue kicks off with the three fighting for their lives against an army of robot killers - but their goal is to find the hidden tomb of the Space Gods.

   The story is by Fabian Rangel, Jr., who co-created the series with artist Alexis Ziritt. They've crafted a real oddity - it doesn't look anything like the typical slick science fiction series.

   Instead it's a raw, skull-melting collision of crude images and cosmic concepts.

   It's rough, but it's a heck of a lot of fun. Not for the faint of heart!

Grade: B+

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