Der-shing Helmer, creator of The Meek, is back with a new webcomic, and it’s set on Mars. In Mare Internum, an entomologist arrives at an isolated Mars research station just as another researcher has been fired. But before he departs, these two scientists will learn a great deal about each other’s troubles.

Quick content warning: the comic opens with a character contemplating suicide.

First off, to answer a question fans of The Meek might have, Helmer has said that, yes, she’ll be returning to her fantasy webcomic later this year.

But in the meantime, now is a great time to hop on Mare Internum. It’s just getting started, but it’s already telling an intriguing story with the same level of rich and expressive art that Helmer devoted to The Meek. After a dispute with his commander and the loss of his popular research robot, Michael Fisher has been fired from his position and is scheduled to return to Earth. On the day he’s supposed to depart, Rebekah “Bex” Egunsola arrives, fresh-faced and eager to explore the possibility of farming crickets on Mars.

Check out this exclusive clip from Geoff Marslett and Mark Duplass’ strange-looking space romantic comedy Mars. We’re still not sure what to make of this indy film — the graphics alone freak us out a bit.
The picture, which is premiering at SXSW, is part comic book, part love story and part comedy. You may remember Mark Duplass from his Sundance directing days or his role on The League.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In 2014, the discovery of life on the Red Planet leads to a space race between a robotic expedition and a manned mission. Over the course of this interplanetary animated feature, a lonesome robot and a motley space crew discover that love can flourish anywhere – even on Mars. Told in the playful style of a graphic novel, MARS explores why we explore.