Review by Ian Keogh

Impossible begins with Will McGillis depicted rocketing through open space seemingly without any means of being saved. Starting with the problem ought to ensure a hooked readership for this SF thriller from Chris Sides and Jake Rowlinson, and having shown it they flash back to ten days earlier and McGillis arriving at a space station as part of a crew sent to clean up orbiting debris. Unfortunately for McGillis, some of the other crew members have a different idea about their purpose.

Rowlinson has a cartooning style not far removed from the bigfoot pages so beloved by the underground cartoonists of the 1960s. His version differs, though, for almost always showing people in close-up, accentuating expressions instead of movement. He differentiates the crew, and his design for McGillis, always seen wearing spectacles, is distinctive. There are a few anatomical distortions betraying the novice artist, but Rowlinson knows where to focus attention to move the story forward.

McGillis being a physicist is relevant, as his scientific knowledge gives him an advantage over those who want him dead, and having events intercut with scenes involving McGillis’ wife is a viable dramatic touch. Considering this entire package barely hits ninety pages including process work and pin-ups, Sides is too leisurely with the set-up, although were this a movie script the balance would be right. As a graphic novel, though, the wait is too long and the payoff too short. The plan was for a continuation, and an eventual combination package might have been more satisfying.