Einstein and aliens, oh my! In this issue, we get some unexpected guests, and finally figure out why Einstein is staring at that monolith. In The Manhattan Projects, we follow the famed scientists behind the atomic bomb, and, in this reality, so much more. They’re all a bit different than the historical figures we know, and their lives have taken different paths.
The first couple of pages chronicle the beginnings of a meeting between Leslie Groves, Oppenheimer, and what appear to be representatives from the Soviet Union, Germany, and England. They group is awaiting even more visitors, some that are not quite of this world. They promise Groves one thing: to give his people the stars. After that, we see Einstein in a flashback, where he gets the idea to build something, something extraordinary. Cutting back to the present, Einstein makes Feynman help him on a project, saying that he needs help remembering something that he has forgotten.
Using parallel stories, the book shows Einstein previously building the monolith, and showing Feynman working to rediscover the key to it. Feynman figures out the mechanism, much as Einstein did before. We then see what came through that gateway, and what that really means for the Einstein we know.
This story is just nuts. Aliens? Check. AI made from a dead president? Check. Schizophrenic geniuses? Check. All this crazy, crazy stuff makes this story so great overall, and is the key reason for me reading it.
Jonathan Hickman absolutely makes this story his own. He has been crafting this crazy, surreal universe that still somehow remains grounded. His crazy, crazy story is so wonderfully written, and I honestly can’t get enough of it. I love this series, so far, and I can’t wait to see where Hickman takes this story. His writing is top-notch, as is his storytelling.
Nick Pitarra’s art is the perfect fit for this series. His characters are so expressive and well-done. It’s no wonder that Hickman wants to work with him so often. His attention to detail and clean lines are wonderful additions to the overall story, and add a lot to the book. I hope Pitarra continues on the series and in comics for a long time to come.
Overall, this book just keeps getting better. Each issue showcases the creative talents of Hickman and Pitarra. This is definitely one of the best new series of the year. Pick it up and enjoy it, comic readers. You won’t be disappointed.
Art: 9/10
Script: 9/10
Parental concern: Little to none. The tiniest amount of blood.
