40 Seconds is an original comic book series that takes place across infinite space and very limited time. Comixology Originals’ sci-fi story follows a science team passing through warp gates into unknown worlds across the universe, investigating the mystery of the last crew’s fate before it claims them too. Every issue is a new world, and in 40 Seconds #3 (of 5), the team ventures onto the harshest planet yet. Check out the exclusive preview below.
The five-issue miniseries is co-created by writer Jeremy Haun and artist Christopher Mitten. Haun has worked for established universes with publishers like DC Comics, Marvel, and Valiant, as well as with creator-owned projects like currently-ongoing Red Mother for Boom! Studios. Mitten is best known for his visual work in Dark Horse Comics’ Hellboy universe, including Hellboy: Return of Saturn and Witchfinder: Reign of Darkness. Haun and Mitten are joined by The Beauty colorist Brett Weldele and In The Flood designer Thomas Mauer.
40 Seconds stars a science team who, despite their close familiarity, refer to each other only by number codes: One, Two, Three, and Four. The quartet has been assigned to pass through a barely-understood warp gate linked up to other points throughout the universe. Their goal is to track down the remains of a previous team who was lost at the far end of a warp. The researchers must travel unknown, hostile worlds from gate to gate, and soon discover that lighting up the “forge gates” attracts the attention of something strange and horrific that wants them dead.
Here’s the preview for issue 3, in which a tragedy visits the team and tensions run high:
Grounded character work and surreal alien vistas combine in 40 Seconds. Mitten crafts a worn-out industrial look to the crew and their gear that lets their muted colors always stand out against the vivid landscapes they explore. Haun gives the supporting cast enough personality to give the dangers in front of them palpable stakes.
The creative team also set out to capture big-budget blockbuster movie storytelling in comic book form. Series writer Haun said of 40 Seconds:
More than ever we need big fun escapist stories. We can’t really get that in the theater right now. We can’t quite go on grand adventures. With a comic story like 40 Seconds, we can bring an epic, world-hopping adventure straight to readers.
Fans of horror-tinged science fiction like Annihilation, space mysteries like Interstellar, or high-saturation modern fantasy adventure like Hellboy can warp right into 40 Seconds.
40 Seconds is available for no additional cost to Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and Comixology Unlimited members, and is available for purchase from Kindle and Comixology. The first two issues are out now. 40 Seconds #3 (of 5) will be available from those providers on December 8th, 2020.
