Battlestar Galactica #2 - Marvel Comics

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA No. 2, April 1979

Sporting a truly dynamic cover illustration by Jeff Aclin and Bob McLeod which strongly suggests Commander Adama’s lone battlestar will soon be mercilessly attacked by a plethora of deadly Cylon raider ships, Roger McKenzie’s narrative for “Exodus” probably came across as something of a major disappointment for its readers in January 1979, considering that the comic’s plot predominantly focuses upon the human fleet’s food shortages as opposed to any sense-shattering spaceship battle. True, this seventeen-page periodical does depict some intriguing insight into the motivations behind Baltar’s titanic treachery against his fellow colonials, but witnessing the traitor’s unsurprising comeuppance later on at the hands of the Imperious Leader doesn’t debatably work as this book’s biggest highlight; “But… What have you done? What of our bargain? My colony was to be spared!”

Instead, the American author spends a good portion of his penmanship slowly depicting the supply issues being experienced by the crumbling convoy, courtesy of pluton poisoning, and the disconcerting rise of the utterly odious Sire Uri “to the Quorum of Twelve after the Cylon attack against the Twelve Colonies.” Such sub-plots are obviously crucial to explaining just why Captain Apollo is later galvanised into recommending he leads a seemingly suicidal mission through the heavily mined Nova of Magadon so as to ensure the supposed “safety of the entire fleet”. However, these scenes are so dialogue-heavy that it is decidedly difficult to traverse them without the publication’s already pedestrian pacing almost grinding to a complete halt.

Luckily though, Jeff Aclin’s script for Issue Two of “Battlestar Galactica” does at least include the introduction of child-friendly favourite, Muffet Two, and provides plenty of spotlight upon Serina’s fast developing relationship with Adam’s eldest son. These scenes set aboard the Rising Star appear to do an excellent job of adapting the televised sequences shown in “Saga of a Star-World”, as well as genuinely helping convey a sense of family between Apollo, the ‘famous female news reporter’ and her young son, Boxey.

Ernie Colon’s artwork should also receive some praise for at least trying to add some dynamism to this comic’s lack-lustre narrative. The Puerto Rican artist’s illustrations of Uri and Lieutenant Jolly are, admittedly, somewhat different from their small screen counterparts in physical appearance, yet they both still manage to imbue some of the characters’ unique personality, particularly the bald-headed Galactican politician who positively exudes his self-centred vileness in every panel in which he appears.

Script: Roger McKenzie, Art & Letters: Ernie Colon, and Colors: Bob Sharen