Customer Reviews

Lost In Space : Voyage To The Bottom Of The Soul

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
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Back in the early 1990's, Innovation Publishing launched an ambitious project: a series of comics based on the characters and situations of Irwin Allen's classic sci-fi fantasy. Not only was it spearheaded by Billy Mumy ("Will Robinson" himself), it featured a more dramatic and adult take on what was basically became a family show aimed squarely at the children.

In the first year of publication there were twelve self-contained episodes that re-established the family unit and reminded readers that Dr. Smith was not the "kindly uncle" he later became in the series but a self-serving, money-hungry opportunist that might sacrifice any one of them for his own ends. It also showcased some of the best comic art, allowing for a more-detailed look at the workings of the Jupiter Two (now, apparently twice the size of the television ship) and more intriguing, and realistic-looking, aliens. The series also allowed the characters to have grown somewhat: both Penny and Will were adolescents, just coming to grips with their burgeoning sexuality, while Judy's feelings for Don were explored, something only hinted at in the series.

The second year of the series - the appropriately-titled "Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul" - dealt with a true survival story: the family has been separated and flung to distant locations throughout the galaxy. Dr. Smith and Will are in a devastated American southwest while John, Maureen, and Penny are on an alien planet, complete with revolutionaries in an oppressive Mexican-like society. As Don and Judy struggle to make the best of an alien "Garden of Eden," the Robot, back at the Jupiter Two, jockeys with machinery to return the family to the fold.

Unfortunately, though there were many devoted fans of the comic (of which I was one), the company went bankrupt and only a year and a half worth of issues (eighteen) were published.

Jump forward to 2005 and Bubblehead Publishing has released a graphic novel that not only contains the first six, year two issues but the concluding installments to "Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul". And what a worthy conclusion it is. The readers finally learn of the sinister aliens behind Dr. Smith's original sabotage of the Robinson mission, the depth and intensity of Don and Judy's attraction to each other, and that Maureen Robinson could do more than bake some cookies.

There's a panel where John, after suffering a memory loss, praises his wife for her bedroom techniques.

Even Penny loses her virginity to an alien lover.

This ain't your father's "Lost in Space".

The only criticism that I can give to the novel is the presentation of people of color. Though the television show never showcased any, the graphic novel has several and, unfortunately, they are mere stereotypes, and, at times, are a bit insulting.

That said, I can still recommend the book as a fitting extension of a beloved television show, and a "restructuring" that really works.

It took nearly 13 years for this story to finally see the light of day, but it was sure worth it. Fans of the original Lost In Space TV series should buy this book post haste if they haven't already. Written by Bill Mumy and subjected to an incredible number of delays, false starts, and just plain bad luck, his ultimate follow-up to the TV show(not to mention the Innovation comic series) that never had a proper conclusion on it's own should satisfy everyone. The artwork, (by Michal Dutkiewicz) is perfectly satisfying in the rendition of each character--somewhat aged as would be expected. The characters themselves are true to the first season in particular (leaving out most of the campiness that came later). Equally enlightening is Bill Mumy's introduction, detailing the trials and tribulations of trying to bring this story to publication. All in all, a must have to go along with the newly released DVDs of the original series.

As a 50-year-old who grew up with Lost in Space
(and had the pleasure of meeting the very kind Mr. Mumy
at a Charlotte convention in the early '90s), I believe
fans of the show will be pleased with this ending to the
saga of the lost Robinson family and Dr. Smith. Bill
clearly put a lot of thought into the plot, and paid tribute to Guy Williams' Zorro series and the Swiss Family Robinson in the process (I
won't spoil for the reader how this is done). For those of
us who will always have a warm place in our hearts for the show,
this volume is a must.

I've never been a serious fan of "Lost in Space" but I have to admit that it is one of my guilty pleasures. Bill Mummy has written an excellent epilogue to the series.

Bill Mumy is the world's greatest graphic novelist. He never fails to please the reader with his creative mind and ability to capture your imagination and fill it with wonder. This novel will excite the LOST IN SPACE fan to say the least! It completes that longing that you had for that ending movie of LOST IN SPACE. It's everything I could have wanted in a final chapter of the series. The book is beautiful in itself with all of the extravagant artwork by Michael Dutkiewicz. Great combo here! It's intoxicating. I couldn't put it down the day I recieved it. It sits on my table in my living room for anyone who comes over to see it. It makes a great conversation piece, because who didn't watch LOST IN SPACE? And who didn't want that ending story to complete the saga? All in all, this is a masterpiece that Bill should be very proud of. No one but Bill could have conquered this great feat. I am very proud of what became of little William Robinson. He definitely did us all proud with all of his accomplishments! I look forward to all of Bill's graphic novels because they are all very intriguing to the soul. This is the perfect name for this novel - Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul because that is just what you feel like you are doing - traveling to the center core of Bill's mind and soul in this masterpiece of a gem! I really enjoyed the forward by Bill Mumy himself, too, at the beginning of the book and all of the pictures as well. It's like you just found a treasure chest of photos of LOST IN SPACE at the beginning which prepares you for the rest of your journey with these loveable characters.
This book is highly recommended!

Was sorry when the story stopped. Glad the story is finally finished. Very cool!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I had about four of the stories in individual comic books from Innovation, but not the complete set. I honestly watched Amazon for over a month waiting for the price to come down. It never did, so I bit the bullet and paid the full asking price. I'm really glad that I did.

Like many others, I grew up watching Lost in Space and Star Trek during the 1960's. I was about the same age as young Will Robinson, and instead of two sisters I had an older brother and a sister. I felt that we had a lot in common, although my "space adventures" were reserved for back yard excursions with my best friend. When I heard about Bill Mumy's desire to "finish the story" through his own writings and eventual compilition into a book, I felt that I had to check it out. I feel like I was living the adventure with him all over again. Every member of the Robinson family gets the opportunity to have their dreams fulfilled, and after all isn't this what all of us want and hope for in life? Thank you for sharing your dream with us, Bill Mumy. If you haven't checked out the book yet, please give it a try. You'll be glad that you did!

Having been a fan of LIS for countless years it is wonderful to read the end to the saga. I collected the Innovation comics and was frustrated when the comic folded. This book makes up for all of that.

Growing up with Lost In Space, I loved it. Hey, I was 10 at the time. And it grew on my over the years. So I found out that an LIS comic book was printed, I bought the whole series. And 'VOYAGE to the BOTTOM of the SOUL' is a fitting end.

Even if you don't like Lost In Space, the art in this Graphic novel is superb. The stories that Bill Mumy wrote are first class entertainment, and very good Science Fiction. They are not what you would call camp, but a more serious vein, and plot twists and turn, and yet it keeps its focus.

I highly recommend it to ANY Lost In Space or Science Fiction fan.