Writer/Artist: Ricardo Delgado

Publisher: Dark Horse, single issues available only, $2.95ea originally

Hieroglyph was a four issue limited series by Ricardo Delgado (Age of Reptiles) back in ‘99-‘00, and while it received great reviews and some critical acclaim I always felt it was a little ignored at the time. Following a human explorer sent to catalog a distant world thought bereft of life, the explorer is surprised to find signs of ancient civilizations in the form of monumental ruins and temples. The explorer also discovers new life, and with that discovery comes danger and the threat of planet wide genocide.

If you’re familiar with Delgado’s art then you know this is series will have some beautiful storytelling with rich detailed art and a flowing visual narrative. Delgado’s sense of design and the influence he draws from painter David Roberts (as detailed in the back of the first issue) combine to create huge monolithic ruins and skeletal remains that create a sense of scale and wonder that very few other creators in this medium can capture. Large chunks of each issue are told with little to no dialogue and Delgado lets your imagination run wild with hints of what types of creatures and aliens could possible fill these landscapes. Delgado manages to combine the most exciting elements of archaeology and science fiction together in a very subtle way while also utilizing a very human context for the entire process.

Now for the bad news. There is no collected edition of this available, and finding the entire series can be kind of tricky. I’ve often managed to find three out of four issues for people and then they have to go on an archaeological dig of their own to have any success. And you really shouldn’t have to spend a ton of money on them, because most retailers don’t even really know what they have if they are selling it. Often you can find them in discount bins and if that’s the case then it’s an even better find. I would still say spending at least $12-15 is a great deal, even $20 although keep in mind they are fast reads. The art alone makes it worthwhile, but hopefully down the road here maybe Dark Horse can get some interest going in a new TPB considering there is a new Age of Dinosaurs series being released.

If you like this then try: Age of Dinosaurs, Xenozoic Tales, The Incal, The Metabarons

Related Links: Dark Horse