Lost on Planet Earth #1
Written by Magdalene Visaggio
Art by Claudia Aguirre
Lettered by Zakk Saam
Published by Death Rattle (via comiXology)
‘Rama Rating: 9 out of 10
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When it comes to Basil Miranda, it’s a key part of her morning routine, getting the mind ready for the day ahead. The opening of Lost on Planet Earth goes into depth about this and detailing the rest of her process, with the rigorous description being in service of understanding what’s going on in her head – so when this routine breaks down, it’s clear what the cause is.
The year is 2381, and national service in the Interplanetary Fleet is a requisite part of every citizen’s life, deemed the appropriate manner of making up for the bloodshed caused by previous generations and their many wars. Basil comes from a family that’s never reached the rank of captain in the Fleet, and she hopes passing an imminent exam will make her the youngest one ever. The first words of the issue are her mantra – “Don’t worry about tomorrow. Focus on today” – delivered in the form of internal narration as writer Magdalene Visaggio’s script works to situate us within her lead’s headspace.
As Basil’s morning goes on, she explains her workout and yoga routines, what she meditates to and even the specificity of the temperature she showers at. It’s all in service of demonstrating her belief that what she does each and every day is put in the necessary work that when the chance at attaining the dream arrives, she knows she’ll be ready for it. After all, all she’s ever wanted to be a lifer in the Fleet since she was five.
Or is it? Is that really what she wants? Will that make her happy?
Just a few pages into this limited series, and it becomes abundantly clear that Basil has committed so much of her time, energy and thoughts to the Fleet and the idea of being a key part of it. Of course, if you think about something enough, you get caught up in your own head and start to question yourself. Visaggio takes the typical indie premise of realising unhappiness at a current position in life, deciding to throw caution to the wind and see what else is out there in and dresses it up in a sci-fi wrapping.
Though that’s more spoken of in the text of the issue than actually witnessed on the page. Artist Claudia Aguirre has a couple of scenes to draw that use holograms rather than tangible, physical objects. One moment of conversation between Basil and her best friend Charlotte makes use of a spaceship and its deck as a backdrop to the words being spoken to emphasize them. And of course, the series makes a start of a political element through the already-mentioned inclusion of national service. These all function as worldbuilding without the issue focusing on the surrounding world, presumably because it’s up to Basil to explore where she goes next.
Aguirre’s linework does a strong job of further defining this lead character. Before we first see the present-day Basil, there’s a panel depicting photos and trophies of childhood triumph in academia. The thick hair that’s so noticeable in these photos is still the style that she sticks with in her current age, a sign that she hasn’t changed much between then and now. Before Visaggio’s script gets to the routine, the body language of a stretch and a smile suggests she’s one of the much-fabled morning people. The strength of Aguirre’s body language continues through the issue, with a gradual shift as Basil’s mind starts to consider other options being observable. What was once a stern, serious and steely face becomes unsure as she slumps in the wake of an epiphany.
The artwork is more focused on Basil than the surrounding world, something apparent from how often the background of scenes is subbed out in favor of using a swath of color. An early use of yellow works because it fits with the time of day and Basil’s sunny disposition in that moment, but later uses of orange and red aren’t as effective due to not correlating to her emotional state, not to mention how they stand out with how the best pages of the issue utilize the surrounding world in conveying this.
One standout moment is Basil grappling with her doubts, as she stands as the center of four panels while the world carries on around her. But another standout follows shortly after as the thematic flip side – a full-page depiction of the world as possibilities open up for Basil, as Aguirre renders the open space and the freedom of discovery as something that’s utterly terrifying. Basil’s spent so long focusing on today, and now she has no idea what tomorrow will bring – but if the first installment of Lost on Planet Earth is any indication, this sci-fi slice-of-life adventure has a whole universe of potential ahead of it.