Traveling to Mars

A middle-aged pet store manager's quest to claim ownership of Mars on behalf of an imitation-meat company provides ample opportunity for searing satire in this Eisner Award--nominated science-fiction tale from author Russell (Batman: Dark Age) and illustrator Meli (Hard Rescue). In the near future, with civilization on the verge of collapse due to dwindling natural resources, a drone exploring the surface of Mars reports that it has discovered a massive deposit of concentrated natural gas beneath the surface of the red planet. When the United Nations decrees that since no human has yet to set foot on Mars, the first person to do so shall be granted right of ownership, executives from the Eazy Beef corporation hatch a plan to recruit someone disposable they can compel to embark upon a one-way mission to claim the planet--and its resources--on their behalf. So it comes to pass that Roy Livingston blasts off on a long, solitary voyage to save the human race--and help Eazy Beef become the most powerful organization on Earth. VERDICT Russell and Meli deliver a sharply observed, often poignant reflection on humanity's search for meaning in this unforgettable tragicomedy.