Miranda in the Maelstrom #1 is due out in print on September 30, 2020. — **Miranda in the Maelstrom #1** is due out in print on September 30, 2020.

By Ariel Baska — This sweet new science fiction series from Action Lab centers on Miranda, a third-eyed dimension-skipping heroine, utterly devoted to her shark-dog Noodles, who apparently can chew through anything. The set-up appears to be a pretty hilariously science fiction version of Oz, with cyclones of swirling vampire mobsters, mecha warrior foes, and vegan allies. I say “appears to be” because while the tone of this series looks to be sweetly comic, judging from the good-natured dialogue and a palette of orange, pink and purple, don’t judge a book by its cover. Or even the first issue.

Just as Judy Garland’s Dorothy in a black and white Kansas is hurtled into an Oz full of color, just so Miranda skips into dimensions created by a different artist and/or colorist in every individual issue. This conceptually creative twist is evident from the change in artwork in the last pages of issue #1, as bright, expressive figures become darker abstractions as Miranda delves into her memories of her family, and feeling of isolation.

No matter how expressive the artwork is, the conceit relies heavily on the talents of the writer. Luckily, Riley Biehl’s scripting is lovely and fluid, transitioning smoothly from one world to the next, and demonstrating how a strong collaboration with artists can make all the difference in staying true to theme and creating new worlds for readers. I personally can’t wait to see what the next partnership in artistry adds to the story.

Overall: Miranda in the Maelstrom is a winning work of imaginative sci-fi, that will please audiences of all ages (ok, 10+ probably). If you need some escapism right now (who doesn’t?) you should follow her - Miranda is going places. 8.4/10

Miranda in the Maelstrom #1 - REVIEW

Miranda in the Maelstrom #1
Writer: Riley Biehl
Artist: Koi Carreon
Colorist: Borg Sinaban
Letterer: Taylor Esposito
Script Editor: Brittany Matter and Nicole D'Andria
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment
The Multiverse Maelstrom! A supernatural storm that crosses over between dimensions, displacing beings and objects from alternate realities. Most fear the maelstrom, but interdimensional explorers Miranda Sherbet and her shark-dog Noodles use the storm as a means of travel and adventure. But when Miranda finds herself disoriented and separated from Noodles, she runs into the storm fighting off violent aliens, harsh weather conditions, and the traumatic memories that set her down this path. Will Miranda find Noodles and continue their adventures, or will they be alone in infinity?
Release Date: September 30, 2020
Buy It Digitally: Miranda in the Maelstrom #1

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Ariel Baska pretends to know many things. And yeah, she has a pop culture podcast, Ride the Omnibus. Which may or may not be exactly as pretentious as you think.