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Black Science #1-9

Black Science Compendium

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Scientist Grant McKay has done the He has punched through the barriers of reality in a desperate bid to unravel the mysteries hidden within the prime universe at the center of the Eververse. But what lies beyond the veil is not epiphany, but chaos. Now Grant and his family are lost, living ghosts shipwrecked on an infinite ocean of alien worlds, barreling through the long-forgotten, ancient, and unimaginable dark realms. The only way is forward, through the delirium of a million universes, with no way home. The Black Science Complete Story edition collects the entire run of the seminal series that launched the multiverse craze by the critically acclaimed team of RICK REMENDER (LOW, DEADLY CLASS) and MATTEO SCALERA (KING OF SPIES, Batman).   Collects Black Science 1 - 43

1104 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2023

34 people are currently reading
128 people want to read

About the author

Rick Remender

1,244 books1,422 followers
Rick Remender is an American comic book writer and artist who resides in Los Angeles, California. He is the writer/co-creator of many independent comic books like Black Science, Deadly Class, LOW, Fear Agent and Seven to Eternity. Previously, he wrote The Punisher, Uncanny X-Force, Captain America and Uncanny Avengers for Marvel Comics.

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5 stars
65 (29%)
4 stars
107 (47%)
3 stars
40 (17%)
2 stars
8 (3%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Joshua K.
125 reviews
April 9, 2023
First goodreads review yippie.
Rick Remender is a writer I haven’t read too much by, but I’m pretty impressed by most of the stuff of his I’ve read. He takes a pretty big concept and makes it easy enough for someone stupid like me to understand. Every time I thought the book would get stale, he found a way to freshen up the concept. The real star here is Matteo Scalera. In the beginning of the book, his art isn’t anything special, but over the course of the books 43 issues, he grows as an artist, and refines his work, and it becomes way more polished. My only complaint would be that the closing 8 issues took way too many turns for me. There’s so many twists and changes in the last 5 or so specifically that threw me for a loop.
Profile Image for Kim Lockhart.
1,233 reviews194 followers
June 23, 2024
Sci fi, Adventure, the Mutiverse, family trauma, brokenness, rage, loyalty, power . . . This amazing epic/saga tackles just about everything and is stuffed full of more plot than I usually see in any ten graphic novels put together. Cannot recommend enough. Block out several hours. This is over 1k pages. Yet, I read it in one sitting, finishing at 3AM, because I just couldn't stop reading.
Profile Image for Jonah Ableman.
93 reviews1 follower
May 10, 2023
What an interesting ride. Black Science is what you get when you take infinite universes and possibilities, morally questionable decisions, familial love, and a ridiculous load of nihilism, and put them all together. While there are a lot of issues in here that are great, the story as a whole is incredibly incohesive. Due to the nature of the story, it seems the author feels no need to explain any massive shifts or twists in the story (of which there are many) and it results in an experience that is less than satisfying. An attempt is being made to create a singular story, yet there is a blatant refusal to follow a single thread throughout the narrative. All that aside, there are some wildly imaginative worlds and ideas in this book, and it’s fun throughout most of the read. The art in this book is also incredible, and really adds to the experience. Coming off of reading one of the author’s other series, Seven to Eternity which I loved, I had hoped for better, but there’s still a lot to enjoy in this book. I simply wish it were more focused. Remender’s Black Science is a total mixed bag, but at least it doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
Profile Image for Jimbo.
25 reviews
June 21, 2025
A good comic, but not perfect. A little heavy handed at times, basically every character is suffering from some horrible past trauma. This isn't necessarily unrealistic, but it gets a little tiring. The characters are hard to like at first, but most of the cast grew on me. I was losing interest around the halfway point in the series, but the second half of the comic really pulled me back in. The twists the plot takes makes it feel like a whole different comic. The ending was CRAZY
Profile Image for Daryn Moore.
115 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2023
Loved this whole journey and it really felt like an actual harrowing experience that I went through with these characters, even if things got a little wobbly here & there.

The multiverse subject matter is handled with very impressive scope and complexity...however that also lead to a few too many moments of confusion regarding characters, chronology and even a sense that I was missing out on some key info between the panels.
Also, I wasn't sure who I was meant to be rooting for during some key moments and then didn't know if that was meant to be intentional or not.

Despite these issues, it is a very strong sci-fi adventure with some real weight and consequences which kept me eagerly flipping the pages.
106 reviews6 followers
February 1, 2025
Uneven at places, but hugely fun and gorgeous!
Profile Image for Simon Walpole.
26 reviews
April 17, 2025
A long and sometimes complicated read that takes a while to get into but well worth it in the end. the artwork is great but for me the star is the colour work by Moreno Dinissio....in places breathtaking
Profile Image for thecmancan.
26 reviews8 followers
August 30, 2023
Who knew the Eververse with infinite dimensions can pack so much family drama into it?
Profile Image for Alejandro Ramírez.
33 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2025
Hace unos días terminé un cómic que me encantó: Black Science.

La premisa era muy atractiva. Un grupo de científicos anarquistas construye un pilar que les permite viajar entre universos paralelos. Sin embargo, no tienen control sobre él, pues ha sido saboteado por un miembro del equipo.

Como toda buena historia, el cómic te lanza directo a la acción. Grant McKay, líder de los científicos anarquistas, corre desesperado hacia el pilar en medio de una batalla entre hombres pez y hombres rana, en un mundo inspirado en el Imperio azteca.

De repente, una de estas ranas asesina a su acompañante sin previo aviso, mientras McKay apenas logra escapar al pilar.

El siguiente mundo los arroja al corazón de una guerra de trincheras: el ejército alemán combate contra nativos americanos que poseen mechas y tecnología avanzada.
Cada universo toma inspiración de elementos reales y los retuerce hasta volverlos irreconocibles. Pero ese es precisamente el punto.

Los universos son como las cebollas: tienen capas. Cada decisión tomada genera una bifurcación que da origen a nuevos mundos. Son extraños, pero familiares a la vez, porque, en el fondo, todos los mundos son el nuestro.

Grant McKay se obsesiona con una pregunta: ¿qué hay en el centro de la cebolla? Ahí debería estar el primer ente que alguna vez actuó. Ahí se encontraría lo más cercano a un dios.
La literatura tiene la tarea de hacernos cuestionar nuestro mundo de la manera más creativa posible.

“Eso es lo que hace la literatura: mete cualquier idea abstracta sobre la vida, sea de carácter político, filosófico o científico, dentro de la esfera de lo humano, donde ya no está sola, sino que se golpea contra una miríada de impresiones, pensamientos, sentimientos y actos. No necesariamente se borra, pero la naturaleza sencilla de esa idea se ve desafiada por la complejidad en la que de repente se encuentra inmersa.”

En medio de esta historia de múltiples dimensiones y un universo fascinante por explorar, se nos presenta un elenco de personajes complejos, donde es difícil determinar quiénes son realmente los protagonistas o los "buenos".

Por un momento, parece que McKay es el centro de la historia, pero muere temprano en la aventura, y el protagonismo pasa a Kadir, otro miembro del grupo de dimensionautas. Kadir y McKay tienen una eterna rivalidad, alimentada por el hecho de que Kadir siempre estuvo enamorado de la esposa de McKay.

Ambos son el corazón de la obra. Kadir, un alto ejecutivo de una poderosa empresa de tecnología; McKay, un genio obsesionado con mejorar la vida de las personas y dejar su nombre grabado en la historia.

La historia explora sus mejores y peores facetas, mostrándonos qué los llevó a ser como son.

“La novela trata de relaciones: las de una persona con el mundo que la rodea, y las de las personas entre ellas. Y en toda relación hay una complejidad propia e inherente a ella.”

Uno de los temas principales es el conflicto familiar de McKay. Es un padre ausente, un esposo infiel, y parece preocuparse solo por su legado. Pero la historia nos muestra que todo viene de mucho más atrás: un padre adicto al trabajo, una madre infiel y una tragedia que culmina con el suicidio de uno de sus progenitores, mientras el otro lo culpa por lo sucedido.
Ese miedo a repetir la historia de sus padres y el maltrato que sufrió en su infancia lo llevan a rebelarse temprano y a desarrollar un profundo pavor a decepcionar a los demás. Paradójicamente, en su intento por evitar ser abandonado, termina alejando a todos.

Es impresionante cómo, en medio de versiones siniestras del Imperio romano o retorcidas reinterpretaciones de la Tierra de Oz, Black Science encuentra el momento para hablarnos de nuestra humanidad: de las relaciones rotas, de la pérdida de confianza, de la resiliencia y del amor.

Esta historia fue una de mis favoritas... al menos hasta el número final.

Una buena historia debe cerrar las preguntas que plantea. Black Science cierra el 99% de sus tramas, pero en el capítulo final, la batalla súper final y súper violenta se resuelve con un deus ex machina. Hasta tienen la mala educación de cortarte toda la batalla y ponerte en la situación en la que ganaron los buenos, sin saber ni como ni por qué.

Para recordarnos el carácter dual de la cebolla, la historia se bifurca en dos finales: el "bueno" y el "malo". No entraré en detalles, pero ambos finales rompen las propias reglas del autor y traicionan la construcción de los personajes.

Aun así, pese a la patinada que dan al final, la increíble construcción de personajes, el arte impresionante, la profundidad de sus temas y la magistral manera en la que introduce la ciencia ficción hacen de Black Science uno de los cómics más especiales que he leído.

*Las frases son del ensayo "La importancia de la novela" de Karl Ove Knausgård.
Profile Image for Mason Gibson.
122 reviews
August 3, 2025
I'm giving this a reluctant 3/5. Just because I think this has some really beautiful moments throughout. the artwork is great and just absolutely stunning, and Remender does make interesting characters and I did care about them (sort of).

Most of my problems are mostly with how badly paced and oddly structured this book is. We're thrown into the action immediately and characters die off and we don't know them, even though we're supposed to care, and there are some bizarre moments where very "important" moments are happening but we don't get the context of them until immediately after they happen because the characters have to explain themselves on the spot or through a flashback.

I also thought this book just lacked any stakes. I mean not to spoil this story but this deals with dimensional travel, and we learn as we go along that there are multiple dimensions with the same characters, and there's a part that's supposed to be suspenseful where they're trying to save certain characters from dying but when you establish multiple versions of them that the characters can just pluck from other dimensions, why worry? Also the amount of fake out deaths this book tries to pull is extremely annoying and just not believable at all.

Also, why were there so many antagonists/threats? You had a jealous ex boyfriend who wants to kill the main character, that ex's boss, a witch who comes out of nowhere and isn't really properly introduced, some goop that tries to possess people, and some frog dudes that want to kill everyone. Do you think that we're bit overcrowded here?

This book also commits the sin of being too long. Besides some of the best story stuff being towards the end, I was already checked out by that point. Things just kept on happening, and I was just begging the book to end already.

Not entirely worthless. There is one extremely beautiful moment that I think is worth to read on its own but I won't spoil it for you. You just go ahead and read it yourself. I'm tired.
Profile Image for Henry Fosdike.
671 reviews
May 1, 2025
Not everything can be 8 Billion Genies.

Having ‘got into’ comic books last year primarily due to some of the fascinating high concepts involved, this is one of the stories that came most recommended. A sprawling multiverse idea as a crew that sets out to solve all the world’s problems winds up in all sorts of trouble when the technology malfunctions. They are led by a very unlikeable character in the form of Grant McKay, which is probably what makes much of reading this 1000+ page epic such a slog. It’s hard to root for such an arse. Even worse, when he does early on, there are obviously more versions of him to contend with.

The story definitely has its moments as Grant seeks to be reunited with his children and wife (as you’d expect from such a long book), but some threads are somehow left unexplored or abandoned as though the creators pondered a plotline then rethought things a few months later. The tale is at its best when things are grounded in reality, away from sentient massive millipedes or frogs and instead pondering what it is to be human. The final segment is particularly powerful and wonderfully evocative, each layer of the dimensions compared to a eucalyptus tree.

Unfortunately there’s not enough of that and things feel so very random at times. In short, it’s an exhausting and often frustrating read. I have no idea which Grant McKay the story ended with and truthfully, I didn’t really care. Even so, the art and lettering are brilliant throughout (save for a few confusing panels dotted about).

All in all, I’m glad I read it but not so sure about the hype. If things had been slightly slower and perhaps more thought out, the final result would have been a lot more powerful.
Profile Image for Shannon Appelcline.
Author 30 books167 followers
October 22, 2023
Black Science is a comic with an intriguing foundation, the investigation of infinite parallel dimensions, and it's a comic with a great character, a selfish, self-absorbed know-it-all, who never changes and who drags other people into his emotional black hole. (Actually there's at least two major characters who fit that description; these aren't happy people.)

It's also got some great stories, and especially some great single issues. At least based on this run, Remender excels in the short form.

But if Black Science has a problem, it's that it's a bunch of stories that don't necessarily form a coherent whole. It feels like you could cut out any number of arcs, piecemeal them together in any organization that you want, and you'd still have as much of a story as is found herein. This is particularly problematic in the first half of the story, where the group arrives on a new world and has a new problem ad infinitum (possibly literally so given the premise of the series). It's very repetitive.

The back-end is more interesting for its increased variety, but also that much more fractured.

So definitely an interesting comic, but one that doesn't entirely fulfill its promise as episodic storytelling and that outlasts its welcome. (Reading it in individual issues over the course of 5 years might have offered a different reaction than cramming this whole Compendium into a month of reading.)
Profile Image for Vincent.
73 reviews2 followers
October 12, 2024
Wow, what a ride. First issue you’re immediately thrown into the action and while it’s immediately intriguing it takes a while to figure out what’s actually going on. The speed of the story doesn’t really let up for the next 42 issues, but it changes its setting, tone and themes several times. By doing so, the plot never gets boring, even when it repeatedly asks the same question: can people really change? Are we doomed to make the same mistakes even if we have free will? Is there a version of us out there that’s much better off… or much worse? Remender isn’t really know for his optimism, but he even writes the most despicable characters with lots of empathy (including Grant McKay, the main character). All in all this series is very psychologically interest and really made me think.
The art by Matteo Scalera really grew on me a lot. At first I found it a bit chaotic, but his paneling and lay-outs improve a lot. I also felt the art was much improved when Moreno Dinisio came on as a colorist from issue 12 onwards. What’s great about Scalera though is that he really keeps up with all the fantastical subjects, creatures and alternate worlds the story demands. You can really tell he’s having a blast drawing it all.
All in all I really loved this series and I can’t wait to start reading Low next (by the same writer, but it’s about a relentlessly optimistic protagonist).
Profile Image for C. Chambers.
481 reviews7 followers
April 29, 2023
"Life is nothing but the people we share it with, and the truest measure of success is how well we love each other"

What a ride. I have attempted this series on multiple occasions and eventually gave up trying to connect with it. Once the compendium was announced I decided to try one last go at reading it; all at once, with an open mind.

And... Wow.

I am convinced this is Remender's magnum opus. It perfectly co l captures Remender's various themes and opinions and presents them in a multiversal masterpiece worthy to sit beside Oscar winners.

Emotional, thought-provoking, beautifully rendered; Black Science is a triumph.

5/5 stars.
Profile Image for Jeffrey.
183 reviews2 followers
November 21, 2024
A fairly bleak sci-fi adventure full of pulpy chaos and action mixed with some pretty complex concepts (multiple dimensions). There was some fun melding between science and magic to varying degrees of success. Most of the characters were not super likable which made it difficult to enjoy when it focused on the characters themselves (which it did frequently). Some plot threads were more interesting than others, but even the uninteresting ones felt like they built to satisfyingly explosive culminations. The story was intriguing enough that it left an impression on me, and I will be thinking about it in future, but with the unlikable characters I don't think I'll revisit the series itself.
Profile Image for Nick Belhomme.
115 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2025
Great topic. Really like it, however it is hard to get into because it starts of with too much going on and too action driven without character development. Then it settles down and actually does character World building and then it becomes really interesting. You get involved into the characters. At the end it goes again overboard and too much action whilst trying to put philosophical topics in the mix. Thus you loose the thread. To finally have some good ending.

In short it has its ups and downs. But generally a very nice read.
Profile Image for Shadow Wizard Dave.
59 reviews1 follower
May 14, 2025
This is the good stuff.

Imagine you isolated Rick and Morty’s interdimensional exploration and generational trauma.

Now mix that in a bowl with hardcore philosophy.

Lastly, make Rick into a sincere hippie, but just as destructive. Arguably more.

THAT is Black Science. This graphic novel knocked me off my feet with its Freudian-exploration of the subconscious rendered across spellbinding depiction of interdimensional travel. It’s got the patience for jokes too. I can’t rave over this — truly immense in scale. Doesn’t sacrifice its intimate story in pursuit of cheap thrills. A 10/10
64 reviews
March 5, 2025
Capolavoro di fantasia e fantascienza a cilindrata potentissima che si lascia perdonare degli escamotage narrativi molto comodi (ad es.rinascite). Plot twists a pioggia, introspezione quasi a ritornello ma storia estremamente avvicente, disegni stupendi e opera magna di Remender dove si percepiscono vari messaggi di denuncia alla società. Alcuni personaggi sono nettamente più positivi di altri, altri un po macchiette. Detto ciò tutto funziona e si fa divorare.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sevki.
271 reviews5 followers
March 8, 2025
This is the stupidest, most un-original, and most boring shit I have ever read from Image Comics and I cannot put to words my anger and disappointment.

After Deadly Class, I was so assured that Rick Remender would provide something of high quality again, but boy was I wrong big time!

DO. NOT. WASTE. YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THIS HORSESHIT. The only reason I am giving 2 stars is that I respect the labor from other people, not this shit story or art.
Profile Image for Mike.
24 reviews5 followers
April 13, 2025
I read this while also watching the tv show, “Dark,” and listening to the “Broken Veil” podcast miniseries. Realities bleed.
What a ride! Lots of introspective moments for me personally. In a thoughtful way.
While the narrative jumps around at a few points, it’s not in a very linear storytelling, nor should it be considering the subject, Remender tells the stories that you need to know.
There couldn’t be any other ending.
Profile Image for Amritesh.
497 reviews34 followers
May 11, 2025
A fast-paced sci-fi adventure that follows Grant McKay, a scientist who builds a machine that lets him and his team travel to other dimensions. After an accident, they lose control of the device and are thrown into one dangerous world after another, with hostile aliens, violent civilisations, or unstable environments. The writing focuses on flawed people trying to do better, while the art is intense and full of motion, with bold colours and imaginative designs.
4 reviews1 follower
January 10, 2024
An intriguing beginning with some great action throughout that unfortunately slogs into a worthless ending. The premise is great and so is the pacing, but the author can't wrangle a multiversal story. So he instead writes about jealousy, love, and trauma, but the soap opera get old and ends in mush.
6 reviews
February 25, 2024
Pure science fiction bliss. I'm rather confounded by the cold reception this has received in comparison with Remenders other work. I found it easily as compelling as Deadly Class and A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance.

It reminded me of a combination of modern Battle Star Galactica, 90's Star Trek and Lost in Space. If you dig Sci-fi, I simply cannot recommend it enough.
61 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2024
Pretty good. Not my favorite, but it wasn't a bad story. Infinitely preferable to the mainstream story about a douchy scientist going around the multiverse, finding alternate versions of himself, and having quirky misadventures with his family.
I still prefer Seven to Eternity, but Rick Remender never fails to provide a good story.
Profile Image for Xroldx.
942 reviews6 followers
July 2, 2023
By now I'm kind of fed up with multiverse stories. And boy do this first issues in this compendium make for a difficult read because of the chaotic coloring. It gets better after issue 12 but still I found this a hard read.
Profile Image for John Bryant.
178 reviews
April 26, 2024
A crazy journey down into the onion core. Interesting ideas and cool world building with a satisfying ending.
Profile Image for marcinczyta.
25 reviews
August 8, 2024
Fabuła bardzo nierówna, czasem chaotyczna i zagmatwana. Na plus świetne rysunki i bardzo zróżnicowane kolorowe światy.
35 reviews
October 9, 2024
Rick and Morty without all the crude humor! I appreciate both so this was a welcome treat. Definitely some gut punches in here. Lots of action. Lots of explosions. Good art too!
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