Advance Review: Brandon Thomas’ Horizon #2 Continues a Unique Terror of Colonization

Writer: Brandon Thomas / Artist: Juan Gedeon / Image Comics Welp, we’re pieces of shit. I’m referring to humans, of course, as the villains of Brandon Thomas’ new series Horizon that tells a story of humans as the alien invaders to another planet – a story of colonization already disturbingly familiar in our own history – and how the survivors fight back to rescue their loved ones and save their planet. The first issue introduced us to Zhia, a soldier from the intelligent, advanced society humans had invaded. After Zhia crashed on Earth she began to find her bearings and repair her communication systems to look for others like her, and she managed to do just that when she came found her friend, another soldier, Mariol. Now a team of two, issue #2 begins by introducing another character, Sherrie, who is also on Earth, blending in as a human and searching to reunite with the other survivors. Come the start of Horizon #2, Zhia officially has a crew.

And they’re not done. What do you do in a small group of survivors when you know there’s more like you out there? You search for your numbers. And what do you do when one’s a captive? You go on a rescue mission. The group of three is looking to become four, and during their mission we begin to learn more about their kind and abilities little by little. This has been one of the strengths of Horizon: world-building with a gentle hand at a pace that is gradual without being opaque. We haven’t learned about Zhia and her people through t…