It's pretty easy to rationalize a $1 first issue, and so it's not really a big deal when the result is just so-so. HIGHER EARTH is one of those that I'm glad I tried for the sake of supporting new indies and the sake of broadening my horizons, but that I won't be following further. It's not a lack of skill here, but a lack of anything exceptional. It's one of those stories where the gruff bounty hunter-type rescues the spunky wild girl for reasons unknown, thus setting the both of them on some kind of pulp adventure. The fairly space-opera plot trades other planets for other dimensions, and presumably the characters will travel to different, alternate Earths - like Sliders, I guess, but a bit more hack-and-slash. Everyone uses swords instead of guns, and the bounty hunter guy - whose name I can't be bothered to remember - has a raven that hangs out with him. I liked the raven. Despite the potential for the plot and the competence of the art, this issue just doesn't sell the idea that any of it is going anywhere new or exciting. This may be a series of excellent ideas, but if it is, than this first issue does the concept no favors. This might be one of those series that finds its footing and figures out what really needs to happen six or twelve issues down the road, any maybe if the buzz gets good I'll return. But right now I just feel like I've read this story too many times already. It probably doesn't help that the sci-fi fugitive couple story is currently being done with a great deal more weight and magnificence in SAGA. The similarity between the two ends there, but really, if HIGHER EARTH doesn't bring anything else to the table, do we really need another?