Illustrator Max Löffler’s considered interpretation of a Ray Bradbury sci-fi story

This personal project from German illustrator Max Löffler is inspired by the science fiction tale Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed by Ray Bradbury. The story is about a man regretting his move to Mars with his family and details his attempts to get back to Earth, as well as the transformation of himself and his fellow Earthmen into Martians.

In Mars of Future Past, Max’s portrayal of this foreign planet is similar to what you might expect Mars to look like with vivid, fiery tones colouring the landscape. But his eye for detail and consideration for the plot of the story makes a compelling set of illustrations. As well as depicting the environment and faceless characters, Max also captures the metamorphosis into alien form. These images are more surreal with blocky heads enclosed by grid-like structures and cogs, giving us a sense of the psychological change.

The purple and blue tones throughout hint towards something more sinister and there’s a subtle shift to darker shades as the series progresses. Individually, Max’s illustrations are intriguing and together they become stronger, encapsulating the isolation and helplessness conveyed within the original story.