A review by billyjepma
Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey, Liana Kangas

funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This started great but fizzles out right before the finishing line to end on a weirdly anticlimactic, almost rushed note. The ride getting there was worth it, though—the irreverent tone and total lack of subtlety with its “fuck the rich and fuck capitalism” messaging are blunt, a little juvenile, and mostly very fun. But there’s not much depth to any of it, which, while certainly not necessary for a dark comedy/satire like this, limits its reach as a narrative. Characters are interesting, yet don’t develop that much during the story. I enjoyed my time with the cast, and the ultimate reveal at the end is clever—the story just needed more time in the oven. Even one more issue might’ve been enough to let the characters, motivations, and themes become something more memorable and distinct. 

The art is a consistent delight, though. Bright colors, unique layouts, surprising bursts of gore—it’s a fun comic to look at, front to back. Kangas’ illustrations are expressive and breathe a lot of life into the space station setting, while Nalty’s coloring functions as the series’ secret weapon, injecting lots of personality and playful vibrancy into the pages that highlight and elevate the writing and illustrations. I still wish the storytelling had more going in beneath the surface. I couldn’t help but be disappointed at how quickly the mystery wrapped up, as it skirts over any potential moral dilemmas or interrogations. I even support the thematic slant the comic ends on, but I wanted more from it. Still, this is a breezy, worthwhile read if the pitch appeals to you at all—it does what it says on the cover, so as long as you don’t expect more than that, you’ll have a good time.
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