Publisher: Boom Comics
Writers: Tynion Iv, Noah J. Yuenkel
Artist: Matthew Fox
Colourist: Adam Metcalfe
Release date: OUT NOW!!!!
Price: $3.99

After the sheriff’s daughter, Becky, a normal high school girl, witnesses something she cannot explain and her forehead is branded with a shiny spiral, it’s clear high strangeness has come to Mukawgee; a sleepy mid-western town, in Ufology #3.

Becky’s unwanted partner in crime is Malcolm, the son of the local UFO conspiracy nut, who also has a show on FREEK radio. Becky grudgingly accepts Malcolm’s help when the weird nightmares begin and her brand starts to glow. A third protagonist is a man whose skin appears to be melting and whose touch is fatal. Oh, and there’s a giant hairy eyeball wearing an overcoat and fedora to round off the general ambiance of incongruity.

The dialogue in Ufology #3 moves the story forward but doesn’t feel forced of unnatural. The teenagers talk like teenagers and dads like dads. There are some nice subtleties “Even though they trust you they won’t believe you,” says Malcolm. The plot of Ufology #3 depends on numerous flashbacks, which can confuse, but at least they are well labelled for the easily distracted reader. Not that Ufology #3 allows for that much distraction.

Matthew Fox’s loose art is stylish but not ugly on the page and fits the story’s weird character and mood. In Ufology #3, characters expressive faces appear influenced by Terry Moore. And Adam Metcalfe’s interesting colors wash everything in purple and blue, enhancing the unsettling atmosphere.

Ufology is about more than just aliens and cover-ups. Like the X-Files, it explores the people involved, and that gives the mini-series more depth than a simple UFO story.

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker