Review by Frank Plowright
Grimlax 17b is not the place you want to live. It has the galaxy’s highest crime rate, and that’s one of its better aspects. It’s home to Zeke Zero, who’s inventive and adaptable, which is just as well, as there’s a price on his head. Still, there may be a way out. He’s in the right place at the right time when a Star Breaker craft is uncovered, and so learns of the legendary galactic treasure hunters.
Ed Caruana allocates a fair number of pages to introducing Zeke and his world. Why anyone would want to leave is immediately apparent, but there are assorted other people to meet, some of whom believe Zeke may have discovered the location of the Eye of the Cosmos, or at least a map giving directions. Everyone met is a possible danger, but it’s the opportunity for Caruana to show how resourceful Zeke is. Caruana’s pretty resourceful himself, conceiving good solutions to seemingly lost causes, and making good use of Zeke sourcing online information, much of it funny.
The light tone is emphasised by Christopher Hazeldene’s cartooning, good with people, backgrounds and colour, if a little too fiddly with detail and effects. It over-complicates matters and can make it hard to figure out what’s happening. Creative design is also a strength, whether the main cast, the technology or the threats. A princess whose face cracks up the angrier she becomes is notable.
The Eye of the Cosmos is a powerful lure, so it’s a while before Zeke allies himself with Astrid, who legitimately wants to become a Star Breaker, and Captain Tooms, who is one, and they’re later joined by a fourth person. Reluctant shipmates, Caruana ensures readers become aware that their combined knowledge and skills are a match for most situations.
Zeke Zero vs the Galaxy follows a broadly predictable path, but it’s kept interesting by the stumbling blocks introduced along the way, and the well defined cast as they’re chased from one location to the next. Conceptually dense and funny, the target audience won’t be able to wait for the continuation.
