SOUTHERN CROSS

“Southern Cross” #3 continues the slow burning mystery aboard the titularly named ship as Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger heaps more mystery on Alex Braith, revealing to readers some new supernatural elements that may have been at play in her sister’s death. It’s an atmospheric issue, full of dark colors and darker character motivations. The issue opens right where the previous one left off, as Braith flees the mysterious presence she saw in her room. Cloonan’s protagonist is a self-assured woman, though the writer isn’t afraid to give her more dimensions. Braith herself seems to be afraid of that added dimension, though it seems to keep showing against her wishes. She wishes to be a Loner and a Rebel but finds herself intrigued and reliant on the captain of the ship. Andy Belanger illustrates Alex with such a poker face throughout the series that, when she does crack, it’s an explosion of emotion. The opening page of the book is not only cleverly designed to incorporate credits and

In “Southern Cross” #2 by Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger, Alex’s investigation takes a strange turn. The first issue established that Erin McKenna, Alex’s roommate, was investigating the death of Alex’s sister, unbeknownst to Alex. Instead of taking the predictable route of having Alex and Erin join forces, Cloonan writes an unexpected twist: Erin has seemingly disappeared from the ship. Defying reader expectations is a neat trick, but Erin’s disappearance is an even bigger deal than it seems. When she goes missing, “Southern Cross” changes genre. The first issue structured itself like a quest narrative and a mystery in space. “Southern Cross” #2 takes off in a completely different direction into creepy and campy supernatural horror. When the cafeteria guy says to Alex, “it’s just that sometimes rooms don’t agree with folks,” the foreshadowing and hinting is so heavy-handed that it jostles the reader out of the story. The folksy camp effect is funny, but it’s not clear whether Cloon

I like the idea behind “Southern Cross” #1. It introduces us to Alex Braith, a woman travelling on board the Southern Cross freighter to the moon of Titan to try and solve the murder of her sister. Even on board the spaceship, of course, new mysteries are starting to form. While the basic premise is solid and holds a lot of potential for where the series will go, Becky Cloonan and Andy Belanger’s opening issue feels unusually stiff and cold. Part of the problem is that Cloonan’s script gives us a character who is, on some level, emotionally closed off. A protagonist who is unwilling to talk to others and spends the majority of the issue holding things back is hardly a character that is going to suck readers into the plot. That wouldn’t be as much of a problem if her internal dialogue — which we do get a lot of — was a little more engaging but, even there, she’s holding back, not offering up so much material that you find yourself liking the character. Similarly, Belanger’s art feels

California court upholds 2002 agreement with Tatsunoko A California court in June upheld a license agreement between Harmony Gold U.S.A. Inc. and Tatsunoko Production, affirming that Harmony Gold's license to The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber Mospeada will expire on March 14, 2021. Harmony Gold can continue to make derivative works, including live-action adaptations, of all three titles, until the license expires. All licenses and sublicenses will revert back to Tatsunoko at that time unless both parties extend the agreement. Harmony Gold owns the title Robotech in perpetuity, but when its license expires it will no longer be able to use or exploit works that are derivative of the three anime titles. Arbitrition Case Harmony Gold initiated arbitration against Tatsunoko in November 2016. Tatsunoko responded with counterclaims seeking US$15 million in damages, claiming Harmony Gold had breached contract

California court upholds 2002 agreement with Tatsunoko A California court in June upheld a license agreement between Harmony Gold U.S.A. Inc. and Tatsunoko Production, affirming that Harmony Gold's license to The Super Dimension Fortress Macross, The Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber Mospeada will expire on March 14, 2021. Harmony Gold can continue to make derivative works, including live-action adaptations, of all three titles, until the license expires. All licenses and sublicenses will revert back to Tatsunoko at that time unless both parties extend the agreement. Harmony Gold owns the title Robotech in perpetuity, but when its license expires it will no longer be able to use or exploit works that are derivative of the three anime titles. Arbitrition Case Harmony Gold initiated arbitration against Tatsunoko in November 2016. Tatsunoko responded with counterclaims seeking US$15 million in damages, claiming Harmony Gold had breached contract