Space Mullet
Daniel Warren Johnson is a writer/artist whose name is becoming more and more well-known in the comics community. 
From his Eisner award-winning ode to pro wrestling Do a Powerbomb to his recent retelling of those ‘80s era robots in disguise Transformers, Johnson has shown a particular flair for action, whether it’s people high flying off the top rope or robots the size of buildings crashing into each other. While he might be well-known for both those projects, he also does a webcomic called Space Mullet, part of which is collected in this trade paperback. This trip among the stars features not only Johnson’s penchant for action but includes some of his trademark zany humor.
The story focuses on ex-Space Marine (and owner of the glorious mullet) Jonah and his alien co-pilot Alphius. Amidst their arguments over who needs to clean the dishwasher and how many squares of toilet paper one should use, they travel the galaxy, taking various jobs and occasionally trying to do some good in this universe, even if they don’t always succeed. In their travels, they encounter an alien girl with psychic powers, a surprisingly gentle killer robot, and an ex-athlete who survived the roller arena long enough to get some parts replaced with cybernetics. Jonah and Alphius also run afoul of Jonah’s old buddy in the Space Marines and discover why it’s absolutely imperative that someone cleans the dishwasher.
Though a great deal of the crew’s adventures take place far away from Earth’s gravity, Johnson’s comedy chops, along with the two leads Jonah and Alphius, keep the book grounded. Star Wars fans might think of the dynamic between the two as the one between Han Solo and Chewbacca, but Space Mullet’s dynamic comes off more humorous because readers have a better understanding of what verbal barbs the non-human of the duo is hurling. While Johnson gives the book some comedic touches, there are also moments of drama, especially as it’s discovered that issues like caste systems and colonialism are still around in this universe.
Comedy and drama aside, a big draw of this book is the action and Johnson’s art provides plenty of it, ranging from a very brutal roller derby-like sport to the death dealing antics of a giant robot. Oddly enough, and perhaps because of Space Mullet’s original iteration as a webcomic, the overall color palette is simply white, black, and blue, a color choice that sometimes muddies the action in some panels. However, the overall cartoonish, indie style of art adds to the book’s irreverent tone.
Johnson might already be well-known among patrons frequenting the adult graphic novel section. If that section already has some books by Johnson, this book would fit in very well among them. The very accurate synopsis for this book reads “For fans of Firefly and Cowboy Bebop, two spacefaring intellectual properties featuring rogues roaming the universe. Those who are indeed fans of both properties may become fans of Daniel Warren Johnson.
Space MulletÂ
By Daniel Warren Johnson
Image, 2024
ISBN: 9781534327252
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18)
