Graphic Novel Reviews: Moonray: Mother’s Skin

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Title: Moonray: Mother’s Skin
Published by: Living The Line
Written by: Brandon Graham
Illustrated by: Brandon Graham, Xerox G. Penalta
ISBN: 978-1736860595
Ages: 18+

Existence is exploration.

Moonray: Mother’s Skin is a high-concept, artwork-focused graphic novel. The story expands on the storyline for the upcoming video game. However, instead of rigorous action, this story focuses on the contemplation of existence in a psychedelic environment. Moonray: Mother’s Skin crafts a new mythos where all existence is made of the substance of higher beings, miium. The main character is recently made from miium. He is nameless, vaguely humanoid, and follows a living compass guide who tells him he must avenge the goddess, Iltar. Freshly conscious, the main character looks on in wonder at the world and creatures around him. Narrative text shares his feelings because he has no facial features. During his quest, he is joined by a quirky ensemble such as a cognizant sword. Moonray: Mother’s Skin weaves world exploration with the backing of the hero’s journey. The quest acts mostly as a frame for an impressive, abstract canvas. This universe has a warped and dream-like quality.

The lack of physics and the blurred lines between animate and inanimate make for a surreal cast and landscape. Moonray: Mother’s Skin is an organic blend of transcendentalism, hero quest, and bizarre, science fiction worlds. This graphic novel is a quiet, contemplative tribute to spectacular science fiction. Readers who want to explore the unknown with extreme world-building or sink into contemplative silence on the meaning of existence and life and death will enjoy this graphic novel. This graphic novel is driven by the artworks. Momentum is built during the first few chapters, but the final chapter changes perspective as a new character is introduced and leaves the readers wondering which direction the story is taking and how expansive the cast and action will become in this series. Empathizing with the characters is difficult as the main characters do not have names or faces. Curiosity pulls the reader to keep turning pages.

The artwork is visually impressive and packs the most punch of the story. The limited color palette subdues the surreal world so the reader is not as overwhelmed. The world of Moonray: Mother’s Skin is truly unique.

Readers are certainly transported to a new world. Moonray: Mother’s Skin is a great choice for high fantasy and science fiction fans but a difficult sell for readers who do not enjoy abstraction. This story is not for a casual science fiction reader. Perhaps future game players of the video game will be curious to continue exploring the world through the graphic novel series.

Moonray: Mother’s Skin is a visual delight with a slow-paced, contemplative exploration of the unknown.

For fans of the graphic novels, Becstar and Sandman, and the movies, John Carter, Dune, and Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.

Angela Dabrowski
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