This was a fun read, if ultimately a bit frustrating.  Eric Stephenson channels Alan Moore and Michael Moorcock, with this alternate 20th Century where science became the new Rock & Roll.  There’s a literal Fab Four of Science, who come together and reshape the future. 

I was often reminded of Watchmen as I was reading Nowhere Men, though it’s a very different book.  But Stephenson uses some similar structural tricks.  We’re seeing a story unfold in the present day, while also slowly learning the story of the four men who formed World Corp, a company that seems to dominate everything.  Each of the four men is wildly different, from the driven megalomaniac to the spaced out dreamer.  Together they did wonderful things, but it’s been decades and their dreams didn’t unfold as hoped.  Scattered through the book are large excerpts from magazines, books, interviews, and ads.  The sort of indulgent thing you’d expect from Alan Moore.  Though thankfully less bloated here.  All of this lends depth to the plight of several people “infected” with something on a space station, and the consequences of that.

There’s a lot of story packed into this volume.  In a lot of ways, it feels like the first half of a novel.  That’s where my frustration comes in.  It’s been more than ten years, and there seems to be no volume two.  Would the story have concluded in a second volume?  Maybe.  It certainly felt like the narrative was moving along.  But it didn’t happen.  I believe the author went on to be a big player at Image Comics.  Sadly, that didn’t translate into seeing more of this series.  

This has an arc.  There’s a beginning, middle, and end.  It’s readable as is.  But there’s also a LOT left open at the end.  It’s clear the story is not over.  It feels more like the first season of a show.  One that was not picked up for a second.  What is here is really good, though.  

I really enjoy the Nate Bellegarde and Jordie Bellaire art, too.  It reminds me a bit of Frank Quitely.  

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