There is a dearth of good science fiction comics out there. Part of the problem lies with the genre itself; in order to effectively write science fiction, the writer needs some knowledge of physics and chemistry. Without that knowledge, armchair physicists will tear holes into the story and gripe about little discrepancies, much like I did when reviewing another scifi comic last year. So it was with some trepidation that I started reading Crimson Dark, by David C. Simon. I’ll admit that my unhappiness with the majority of recent science fiction was only part of the reason I had avoided CD; the other reason is that Simon uses the 3D Rendering program Poser to help create the comic.

Unlike a number of other Poser comics, CD doesn’t use Poser to create the end-product. Because of this, the comic manages to avoid the worse aspects of uncanny valley territory, where the artwork is close enough to reality for people to lose some suspension of disbelief, but off just enough to trigger feelings of revulsion because of the alien or other aspect of the artwork. Instead, Poser is a tool used to create the line-art for the comic, which Simon will then color using more traditional means. The end-result is not perfect, mind you. Small things such as articulated teeth (very rarely seen in drawn comics) occasionally push the comic into the uncanny valley, along with some coloring choices. But the end result is still far more effective than most comics that rely entirely on Poser for the end product.

This allows Simon to focus more on the story. In this, Simon has created an excellent setting that is reminiscent of the television program Firefly, at least so far as the cast dynamic is concerned. The comic follows the privateer vessel Niobe, which is involved in a larger conflict between two stellar governments, and which rescues ace fighter-pilot Kari Tyrell after she’s involved in an ambush against her patrol. While Kari is initially reluctant to work with the privateers, events eventually force her to join with the crew of the Niobe.

However, it is the cast that sells the story here. The characters are interesting, complex, and in a refreshing change from far too many comics, aren’t complete idiots. Perhaps part of this is the Firefly feel to the comic that helps sell these characters. Nor are these characters clones from the television show (though Hal, the ship’s engineer, seems almost like Jayne’s twin brother, though I might be seeing too much into the characterization there). Fortunately, other characters in the comic likewise are smarter than the generic antagonist and actually think things through. It’s a refreshing change from far too many comics where hero and villain often collectively have less intelligence than a squirrel living in a mercury refinery.

Crimson Dark manages to create an effective mix of scifi elements, plot, and character development. While considerable work goes into the computer-generated elements of the artwork, the comic doesn’t rely on the computer art to distract people from ineffectual storytelling or two-dimensional characters. Instead, CD is one of those rarities among scifi comics in having an effective story with realistic scientific elements. Add in fairly effective art that avoids the worse effects that many Poser-assisted comics succumb to, and you end up with a rarity among science fiction webcomics: an intelligently-written comic with art that isn’t anime and doesn’t make you want to claw your eyes out. For these points alone, I have to recommend it for any science fiction fan.