Ministry of Space ~Warren Ellis, Chris Weston
–published in graphic novel format December 2004
–Image Comics
–96 pages
–4.5/5 stars
Warren Ellis is something of a phenomenon in the comic book industry, consistently putting together series that garner well deserved attention. That being said, I hadn’t read any of his work until a year or so ago when I got caught up in his excellent series, Freakangels. His more well known work, Planetary and Transmetropolitan, are works that I had never gotten into when they began and have yet to read. More and more, however, I am discovering that Warren Ellis is a name synonymous with quality storytelling, and he seems to have a particular talent for being able to tell a good story in a very brief amount of space.
His recent miniseries, Ignition City, was fantastic, so when a friend offered to loan me his copy of this three issue miniseries, I jumped at the chance. And I am so glad that I did.
Ministry of Space is an alternate history story that answers the “What If” scenario of Britain rising out of WWII with the funding and the gumption to make space travel a reality in a relatively short amount of time. The story is told in the present time, in this case 2001, with flashbacks to the late 1940’s and 1950’s. The focus is on a singular character, John Dashwood, who had the daring to make space travel happen. In the present day, Dashwood is summoned to an Earth orbiting space station to witness the launch of America’s space program. His suspicions are aroused, however, and it may be that his past is about to catch up to him.
It takes a real talent to be able to tell a compelling and complete story in just three comic issues. Here Ellis does so with great efficacy and what results is a page-turning affair. Chris Weston’s art, expertly colored by Laura Martin, could not be more perfect for this series. He captures things in stunning detail and his designs for planes and for ships that will travel in space have the kind of plausibility that keeps the reader firmly grounded in the story. Suspension of belief is quite easy.
Alternate history stories can sometimes be complicated in their efforts to point out to the reader just how this timeline is different than the one that actually happened. By concentrating primarily on issues of the space race and using the art to help tell the story, Ellis and Weston tell a story that is rich without being complicated and one that is very accessible to the casual reader.
The graphic novel contains a written afterward by Warren Ellis in which he talks about his inspirations and speaks out about the state of the space program in a way that resonates with those of us who are disappointed that dreams of space flight seem to be dying under the weight of governmental neglect and apathy. This afterward alone makes the book worth picking up. If your library has this, or if you run across a copy cheap somewhere, I highly recommend giving Ministry of Space a read. It is a substantial little story and well worth spending some time with.
Thanks for the loan, Jerry!
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This book is a selection for the 42 Challenge 2010 and for the Graphic Novel Challenge 2010.
I’m a huge Warren Ellis fan. I loved his Planetary series. I’ve also highly enjoyed Freakangels, Ignition City, some of his Marvel work when he worked on several X titles, Nextwave, plus numerous other series of his I can’t think of right now. I really need to read the book of his a got a few years ago.
I tried reading this series when it came out but there was a huge delay after the first issue came out ( numerous Ellis series are famous for delays ) so I never finished the series. Glad to hear you enjoyed and I will have to see if Jerry will let me borrow it as well.
I would highly recommend a one shot graphic novel he did several year ago too called Orbiter which also deals with space. It’s great. I have it if you want to borrow it some time.
One thing I love about Ellis is how he works so well with so many different artists and really plays to there strengths.
One of these days I need to read his Transmet series which I’m ashamed to say I haven’t. I need to get them from the library since I can’t afford all the trades.
I was pretty sure that you had read and really liked Planetary. Jerry reminded me on Wed to give it to you when I was done. I’ll bring it to the shop Wed. and have Debbie put it in your box. I have no doubt you’ll like this, and it is a fairly quick read.
Now that I’ve read a few things I am interested in checking out both Planetary and Transmetropolitan at some point. Also need to catch up with the latest Freakangels.
You need to check out the Orbiter graphic novel. trust me. ask Cameron about it. I’m sure he’s read it.
I’ve seen it several times at shows and stuff and it always looked interesting. I should see if I can snag it from the library.
And I can…and did! 🙂
Do you hear crickets on this post? … yes … there be crickets in your blog 🙂
USA gets a draw today against England in the World Cup. I say that’s huge positive for us. I figured we’d be lucky to escape with one point against them and we did so I’m happy. Go USA !
Sounds like draws are the thing for this year’s World Cup, as the whole thing started with one. Glad you are enjoying it.
I really liked this book; I was disappointed that it was a one-off.
Hey Dan, its been a long time. I can see that. I go back and forth on these kind of things. I like one-offs to some degree as opposed to having to stay financially committed to something much longer, but then again some of my favorite comic series are long running. When done well, like this one was, I am much more satisfied with it being a shorter story.
So, this is a comic book? I thought you read literary fantasy? Why is the spaceship painted that way?Is this Ellis reltated to the NBA player, do you think? Anyway, I didn’t know you read comic books, you must be a lot younger than it looks like on your site here to be reading comics, those are for kids, you know.
I’m sorry Jeff & all, but for me, watching soccer is just less exciting than watching ice melt. Ninety minutes (or however long one of these games is, they seem to take days) of running up and down the field and each team manages maybe 1 or 2 points? Sheesh. Then, like hockey (also an absolutely boring, pointless [pun] sport), they allow a tie. No ties in baseball, football (don’t even bother to tell me about “soccer vs. futball” vs. football and all that), basketball. Not in tennis, golf, water polo, volleyball, handball, squash, rugby… It is interesting to note that only the MOST BORING sports allow ties. I guess at the rate of a point an hour or whatever, they would be there all week if they insisted that someone actually WIN the game. So you go ahead and enjoy watching a bunch of men or women run up and down a patch of grass. Whoop it up every now and then when something actually happens. Me, I’ll read a book.
Oh, and tell that Brundage guy comics aren’t just for kids. Fact is, they are hardly for kids at all these days what with prices and content.
Richard: Instead of ice melting, how about curling? I don’t think ties are allowed. I was going to visit friends this weekend until I remembered it’s World Cup. I’ve gotten better at watching soccer and hockey, but they’re still not my thing.
Soccer is one of those games that you have to have some hook, I think, to get into and once you do you begin to understand the poetry of it all. I first got into soccer in college when our girls team was doing really well and of course love watching it in the Olympics, especially the women’s team. I don’t mind the ties. Watching soccer and hockey is actually quite exciting when you do watch the back and forth, the strategy etc. The fact that the scoring is often few and far between actually helps build the suspense. I still prefer the NFL over any sport known to man, but I appreciate most sports just for what they are, soccer being one of them.
And, being something of a Britophile, I am appreciative of the fact and fascinated by how much football (soccer) and cricket is such a deep ingrained part of their national personality. That is comes with so many decades of history is pretty cool.
I’m not sure Brundage isn’t a spammer, but if he isn’t I think he was just being tongue in cheek. Comics definitely are not for kids anymore. Most of what I read and like is certainly not something I would hand to anyone who isn’t a least an older teenager.
And this is, as I said, a really good comic.