Review by Ian Keogh

Danny Dean and Blaze Storm once starred in a successful SF TV series, but that was decades ago and they’re now both resigned to earning a meagre living from the convention circuit, their panels attended by fewer fans with every appearance. They’re not the only ones in that position. So what’s the way out?

Well, there’s the tragic way or there’s the alternative co-writers Matt Brady and Jimmy Palmiotti come up with. Organisers of the bigger convention organisers make money and are constantly squeezing the appearance fees, so why not rob the biggest convention of all? It turns out some of the skills learned both in front of and behind the camera on TV are transferable.

Brady and Palmiotti take a tongue in cheek approach to the plot of one final heist. Their cast aren’t the usual high maintenance former TV stars, but grounded folk who don’t like their current situations, but can’t afford to bite the hand that feeds. While the jokes set at conventions and the comments from fans are funny, what really shines are the excerpts from faked old TV shows and the material those still in employment are working on. As far as the bigger plot goes, Brady and Palmiotti make sure readers realise the organiser is as shady as they come, and having contrasted the cast the question becomes whether the folk we’re rooting for will come through. The path taken is that around halfway the heist is explained as it might be if everything goes to plan, and naturally enough we then see how it doesn’t.

There’s no faulting the accompanying cartooning from Dominike “Domo” Stanton as he packs the panels, supplies the personalities and keeps the story running smoothly. His character designs work in keeping everyone easily distinguished, and you really have to admire the effort put into the backgrounds.

Whereas another take might have been mean spirited, this is good natured throughout. Brady and Palmiotti keep the jokes and surprises coming all the way through an unpredictable story to a great ending.