UFOs are real. Even the staunchest of skeptics can no longer deny their existence. What they truly are and where they come from are the questions that remain unexplained. Many have tried to answer these questions for decades, if not centuries. Whether through science, history, or even religion, we have always looked up and wondered what is out there — and what will happen if we ever make contact? Maybe some of those questions can be answered through the most unlikely of places: within the pages and panels of comic books.
I'm the resident UFOlogist here at Pop Heist, and I wear that weird badge with pop-honor! I've spent half my life researching and investigating UFO sightings and claims of close encounters with non-human intelligences (call them aliens if you'd like), and you can follow my journey via the podcast Somewhere in the Skies. But I'm also a comic book nerd. Always have been. Always will be. So today, I wanted to introduce you to a handful of ambitious comic books that dared to not only tackle the UFO question, but perhaps even attempt, once and fall all, to answer it.
Estimate of the Situation (Black Tie Labs)
Estimate of the Situation is an independently published series which covers the true history of the U.S. Government's first attempts at investigating UFOs, prior to the publicly-known endeavor known as Project Blue Book.
Created and written by Tom Orzechowski [Ed. note: Not the long-time Uncanny X-Men letterer Tom Orzechowski] and John Zoitos with art by Natalio Anastasia, the series is based on declassified documents and extensive historical research. It's an exploration into the beginnings of official acknowledgement of the UFO phenomenon and the implications to its levels of secrecy.
The meticulous attention to detail in the writing and dialogue is what caught my attention most as a UFO researcher. But those not as privy to those finer details will be drawn in and want to learn more. As for the art in this book, it pours out seamlessly in perfect unison with the high stakes situations being played out and the pressure being put on the high-ranking military and government officials we are introduced to. Anastasia's use of highly realistic facial expressions, style, and color palette, all blend together to bring forth a story of cosmic proportions.
Estimate of the Situation is available via Black Tie Labs. Check out the Estimate of the Situation creators on Somewhere in the Skies.
Strange Skies Over East Berlin (BOOM! Studios)
Strange Skies Over East Berlin — written by Jeff Loveness with art by Lisandro Estherren — is a beautiful hybrid between a Cold War espionage tale and cosmic horror.
The standalone graphic novel takes place in titular East Berlin in 1973, and follows a disillusioned American spy named Herring. After witnessing the crash of a mysterious object in the sky, Herring is thrust into a dangerous mission to infiltrate a secretive Soviet facility where the "object" could threaten to expose all of humanity's darkest secrets.
The writing by Loveness is heavy. This is a morality tale in some senses, exploring the psychological toll that service to a cause can have on an individual. With the "object" being an alien of sorts, Loveness uses this monster to reflect on humanity and how terribly monstrous we can be as well. The art by Estherren is surreal and reflects the desolation and isolation of Berlin in this era. The colors add a very bleak tone, adding to the eeriness of the story.
Strange Skies Over East Berlin can be a little slow at first. But when it picks up, there's no looking back. It's a psychological journey as much as it is an espionage thriller. Sprinkle in an alien threat, and you have an unmissable series.
Strange Skies Over East Berlin can be purchased online through BOOM! Studios.
Blue Book (Dark Horse Comics)
Blue Book comes to us from Dark Horse Comics and the unique and prolific minds of writer James Tynion IV (The Department of Truth), artist Michael Oeming (Powers), and letterer Aditya Bidikar (The Department of Truth). Blue Book is a non-fiction series that tells true stories of UFO incidents that were officially investigated by the United States Air Force, focussing on the bizarre nature of these sightings and encounters.
To date, Blue Book has two volumes. Volume 1 is a fantastic re-telling of one of the first reported alien abduction cases, that of interracial couple Betty and Barney Hill in 1961. Volume 2 takes us back to 1947 with the famous sighting of Kenneth Arnold who would go on to be known as the man who coined the term, "Flying Saucer." This volume also packs in the infamous Roswell UFO crash and the possible origins of the mythical "Men in Black." It truly has it all, covering one of the most active years in UFO history.
The brilliant minimalist art design by Michael Oeming is incredibly easy on the eyes. It's predominantly covered in moody blues and bold, stark blacks. This choice perfectly complements the eerie, otherworldly atmosphere of the stories and gives it a film noir feel. Tynion's narrative also shines, giving a chilling authenticity to the accounts. I highly enjoyed both volumes and can't wait to see what comes next in the Blue Book investigations.
Blue Book is available via Dark Horse Comics. Check out Michael Oeming on Somewhere in the Skies.
UFOlogy (BOOM! Studios)
James Tynion makes a second appearance on my list with his six-issue series, UFOlogy. Co-written by Tynion and Noah J. Yuenkel with art by Matthew Fox, UFOlogy is a coming-of-age story with a science-fiction backdrop.
UFOlogy drops us into the small midwestern town of Mukawge where we follow high school students Becky and Malcolm. After Becky is marked by an encounter with aliens, she and Malcolm go on a quest to find answers. That's where the story becomes much more complex, and we learn that whatever happened to her has something to do with both Becky and Malcolm's parents from many years ago.
Tynion and Yuenke's dialogue is punchy and witty and their characters are fleshed out quite nicely for such a limited run. The artwork by Fox really enhances the tone and atmosphere, giving a rough exterior to this heart-filled story. I particularly enjoyed the panel structure in this book, as it really kept the story moving.
While this isn't steeped in "true" UFO lore, it builds upon it to create a lore all its own. The mystery unravels quite nicely, and it's just a fun puzzle to solve with the bonus of having great emotional depth. I wish there was more story to be told, but loved what we were given.
Saucer Country (Image Comics)
Saucer Country, written by Paul Cornell with art by Ryan Kelly, is primarily a political drama set amongst the backdrop of alien mythology and espionage. Wasting no time, we are introduced to the main protagonist, Arcadia Alvarado, a governor of New Mexico who has just announced her run for President of the United States. However, the campaign takes a strange turn when she is seemingly abducted by aliens, leaving her with fragmented memories. She sets off on a clandestine investigation to uncover the truth behind her abduction experience, while also grappling with her high-stakes political campaign.
Cornell crafts a story so nuanced that it's hard to look away. His vast knowledge of actual UFO lore is exceptional, bleeding perfectly into the story's overall themes of power, belief, and paranoia. However, it's not just a love-letter to UFO history. The story also wrestles with identity and trauma as well. Ryan Kelly's artwork mixes a pitch-perfect realism when dealing with the political story while piercing our eyes and minds with his surreal imagery of alien encounters. It's truly a perfect marriage between writer and artist, constantly blurring the lines between reality and paranoia. Saucer Country creates a highly imaginative genre-bending narrative while also giving respect to UFO mythos and the controversial phenomenon of alien abduction.
Saucer Country was originally published by Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics, before continuing via a limited series at IDW Publishing and concluding with a finale at Image Comics. Check out Paul Cornell on Somewhere in the Skies.
In conclusion, I hope you'll consider checking out each and every one of these comic books. Like any other topic in society, each creator brings something truly unique and special to the ever-enigmatic topic of UFOs. And perhaps by flipping through the pages, you will, dear reader, find some answers to the mysteries that exist somewhere in our skies.
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