REVIEW: I was Kidnapped by Lesbian Pirates From Outer Space #2 (of 6)

Written, penciled, inked, colored, & lettered by Megan Rose Gedris
Review: Will Dubbeld

Well, this one is pretty self-explanatory...
Oftentimes the Dollar Box at the good ol’ LCS has naught but a mix of DC and Marvel castoffs supplemented with a cash crop of disposable early Image books.
There are times an oddball sneaks in, however.
An oddball like this Lesbian Pirates book.

Have no fear, readers. This isn’t a graphically illustrated underground porno comic.
Not that I wouldn’t buy that for a dollar as well, but anywho...
Rather, it’s an obliquely Pulp science-fiction pop art piece steeped in parody.

The issue 1 recap tells us a crew of lady pirates (or more accurately bank robbers, in this issue anyway) abduct a secretary named Susie, whisking her away to the stars.
It’s intimated the ships captain has kidnapped Susie for some specific reason but it’s only hinted at in this issue. Presumably questions are answered later on in the series or were addressed in issue #1.

Part captive, part honorary crew member, Susie looks on as the crew pulls a bank job on an alien planet and the readers are introduced to the buffoonish Male Man.
That’s right, Male Man...
He appears to be a riff on Superman, only absolutely ineffective. He’s presented as an employee of the bank who, during the robbery, spirits away to the nearest phone booth in order to costume up. The booth is, of course, in use and a darkly comedic scene follows involving brain surgery and an ice cream scoop.

Part spoof, part homage, and underlaid with some sociopolitical commentary about gender roles, Lesbian Space Pirates could have made some big waves in the Indie webcomic/print scene.
Unfortunately the author sold the rights to the apparently rather shady Platinum Studios and threw in the towel. There’s a bevy of information about regarding Platinum Studios and almost none of it good, citing shell companies, embezzlement, lawsuits and other altogether dick moves. It’s unfortunate for these creators who were bamboozled by the charlatans at the company and hopefully someday justice will be served.

All said and done, it’s a fun little distraction of a comic not weighed down by any story baggage and wonderfully illustrated. It’s a simple art scheme but highly reminiscent of pop art and comics from the late ‘40s through the Fifties.
I picked up the full mini, minus #1 as it was not present. I’m sure the subsequent issues maintain the level of light storytelling present in issue 2.

With any luck, Ms. Gedris has persevered after the Platinum Studios debacle and continued to create comics.
I’d hate to see a creative force extinguished by a bad experience with a bad company.