I’ve been following Scott Bieser’s serialized online graphic novel, Quantum Vibe, since day one. This month the first volume of his panels was published as a book, available from the usual sources. Weighing in at 236 pages, the first volume focuses on Nicole, a young woman, often irresponsible and prone to drink and scenes, who embarks on a new career and life of adventure after getting dumped by her flake boyfriend.
In the aftermath of her depression and self-indulgance, she is fired and forced to look for new work. She interviews for a job as personal assistant to a peripatetic inventor/businessman, Dr. Seamus O’Murchadha, who has a bold and ambitious project that needs a pilot and all-around gopher. Young Nicole at first is overwhelmed, bt later accepts, and begins a journey that will take her from the sun and outward, with stops along the way at various planets and orbital stations.
The title comes from O’Murchadha’s purpose, a refinement of Quantum Vibremonics, or parallel universes. His initial effort is to have Nicole fly a ship into the sun’s upper atmosphere to drop nuclear payloads as part of his overall plan. That much is stated early in the book. His schedule, which takes from the sun to Mercury, Luna, Mars, Europa and Titan also appears to go according to plan, though at the conclusion of this volume they are approximately halfway along their journey (the online story continues, and now as entered volume 2, with a focus on another character). Nicole, all fire and impulse, appears at first a poor choice for her role, but plays her part well, to the point that enemies of O’Murchadha take notice seek to remove her from the chessboard in their game against their rival.
O’Murchadha has been around for over three centuries, having undergone several rejuvenation treatments. His last round left him with certain side effects, and his appearance now makes him gigantic in size. Still, he seems to take this in stride, and Nicole gradually accepts this, as well as their working relationship. This book and subsequent comics are almost as much about Nicole growing up as much as anything else, though she seems to fight hard to remain the college age kid who likes to party and get drunk. Her easy nature and trust and tends to get her into trouble, landing her into a nasty situation in jail on a planet that has embraced statism and control.
Bieser’s libertarian politics bubble to the surface now and then, but the story itself doesn’t sacrifice its purpose for politics. The nature of the plot, which takes the due from one location to the next, allows Bieser to explore a variety of societies and customs. Colorful characters abound, with hidden plots appearing now and then to spice up events. When you read the comic one page per day you sometimes miss things, such as important characters introduced early in the story who later re-appear such that they are forgotten. When read as part of a single volume and without having to wait for daily installments, suddenly you become more aware of these characters. One such character appears early in a bit role, then gains prominence later on in the book. In fact, she becomes so important that the next volume is named after here. But that’s another story.
The first volume of Bieser’s massive saga only hints at what lies ahead. He has in the past illustrated several books created by other writers, but here demonstrates his excellent ability to weave a story as imaginative as that of any of his previous collaborators, and possibly beyond. Get hooked into Quantum Vibe. You won’t regret it.
