Review by Frank Plowright
Rather than a sequel to the first Full Tilt Boogie collection published in 2021, we now have a complete collection incorporating it.
The strip is named after the spacecraft carrying a mismatched selection of characters having to get along, as they might be the best hope of preventing their galaxy being dragged into war. Alex De Campi begins with Prince Ifan, selfish and spoiled, learning his family’s patience has expired so he’s being left to fight off debt chasers alone. In attempting to avoid them he unites with the Full Tilt Boogie crew.
Full Tilt Boogie is a homage to numerous SF elements that the younger De Campi loved, from Yoda to 1980s anime, yet merged with original ideas intended to induce wonder and surprise. A perfect example is the sleeping temple that selects knights to defend the empire, seen on the sample art. The chosen knights are also spotlighted, among them reluctantly Ifan’s twin sister Nix. The focus on character contributes greatly to the series being so entertaining, a standout being the Han Solo sort, here an adventurous young woman called Tee, being accompanied by her grandmother. In turn that grandmother proves a positive influence on a previous galactic assassin the Black Dog.
De Campi really benefits from the presence of artist Eduardo Ocaña, who’s a deceptively excellent storyteller, even if a dense script means he can’t maxmise the visual impact of space battles. His designs for a mismatched cast work well together, down to a cat that coughs up items from another dimension, and he visualises their distinct personalities while his other creations can be magical or science based. This is emphasised when Tee takes on a solo mission for the middle section, packed with imaginative designs. Ocaña’s art improves throughout from a strong start, bringing exactly what’s needed to every scene and selling creative wordless sequences, such as an innovative spacecraft docking facility.
Having set a problem in motion De Campi takes an entertaining diversion for the middle section, but then gets around to the business of seeing to galactic stability. Black Dog becomes an increasingly interesting presence, her connection to an earlier universe being relevant in what plays out, and elements of what’s already been revealed are constructively used as the bigger plot takes over for the final third. The way the prominent cast change throughout is effective, and the pay-off is compact, but satisfying. This is a young adult graphic novel old adults can relish.
