Terran Omega – The Ghosts of War
Creator: PJ HoldenPublisher: Self-published
Simply put, if you haven’t been reading PJ Holden’s Terran Omega, you’ve been missing out on one of the best new sci-fi comics in years. Published-white online for free, or sign-up for as low as $1 a month to read the story in color, getting access to new material basically as soon as Holden finishes drawing it, doing everything from the scripting down to the lettering himself
And Terran Omega is well-worth the follow. The first book (which has now concluded) spans more than 50 pages, starting out as what feels like a worthy showcase for Holden’s excellent sci-fi design work, before quickly working horror tropes seamlessly into a well-done and rich world. Our lead character essentially finds a haunted house in space, and the action takes off from there, careening to some of the different places one might expect a space opera to go to, all while expanding its cast.
Throughout, Terran Omegamakes great use of the freedom that doing a web comic provides, in a number of different ways. The format, first and foremost, allows Holden the chance to really cut loose with stunning two-page spreads (a pair of which I’ve included with this post), seemingly whenever the mood strikes. And we get quite a few of those in this first book, more than half a dozen by count, featuring everything from spaceship explosions to scary ghost/ghoul reveals.
And while plot-wise the book is a fun horror-tinged space adventure, it’s also not without a deeper emotional core, as its lead character quickly finds herself entangled with a pair of orphans, everything about which can turn heart-rending at a moment’s notice. But what’s most impressive is the way that Holden coherently world-builds and brings what might otherwise feel like disparate elements together.
This all amounts to a new sci-fi comic that feels both assured and immersive, like it’s creating a unique world, populated by interesting monsters, starships, and characters, all driven by Holden’s singular artistic vision. And in this day and age of IP comics and familiar Hollywood blockbusters, the existence of something as small, personal, and excellent as Terran Omega feels like a rare gift, one that might just remind you of why you love sci-fi comics.
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