cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/26233393
Not long after New Years, I started to see an intriguing image all over comics Bsky. It’s the one just a bit higher up in this post. Drawn by artist Dennis Fujitake, a dog-man stands in a space suit, holding a two-handed laser rifle, looking stoically into the distance as a sci-fi armada floats behind him. The image, as I say, was intriguing, but moreover, it was being shared by a number of trusted comics curators, singing the praises of the book for which it was the cover — The Dalgoda Omnibus.
I had never heard of Dalgoda nor seen this character before. So, I decided to look into it, and I learned that Dalgoda was a well-regarded comic that had gotten somewhat lost over the years. Written by Jan Strnad with artwork by Fujitake, the first of an eventual eight total issues was published in August 1986 by Fantagraphics Books. The reason I’d started to see that cover image on my Bsky feed, however, was that for the first time ever, Dalgoda was getting collected into a new format — The Dalgoda Omnibus, which arrived this year via About Comics. I saw more and more trusted voices excited about the book, and so when it came out, I snagged a copy. And I’m glad I did.
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What makes this a fun read is the characterization of Dalgoda. The cover I started this review discussing is sort of misleading. One could be forgiven for looking at it and expecting Dalgoda to be some kind of pack-leading badass, fighting the good fight throughout the galaxy. He is not. Dalgoda is a relatable and normal guy. He’s on a mission of great galactic import that he’s not excited about or, quite frankly, suited for. He doesn’t win big shootouts through feats of great bravery. He runs from threats, doesn’t make a ton of friends, and largely botches most of the very difficult things he’s tasked with.
And the brilliant humor and readability of these comics rise in large part from that contrast. We’re in a thoughtful, detailed sci-fi world where the fate of Dalgoda’s people, as well as the human race, is very much at stake as a terrifying and violent alien force bears down on both of them. And we’re following a guy who has too much in common with us — everyday normal readers — for comfort. It’s not like the hero’s questing, sci-fi power fantasies of its day. It’s something so much more fun and relatable and at times even poignant.