Review: The Orville #3: The Word of Avis Part 1
[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: David A. Goodman
Artists: David Cabeza
Colors: Michael Atiyeh
Letters:
Reviewed by: Carl Bryan
Summary
Positives
First, I was not inclined to take this comic seriously (are we really supposed to take comics seriously?). But in some ways, we should. And anything that comes close or even too close to a series or movie we are very familiar with, then we should view it as a spoof. The first Battlestar Galactica was indeed taking bits and pieces from Star Wars and Star Trek. And the Orville, a science fiction comedy-drama (a dramedy?) is just that. it comes way too close to being another version of Star Trek…or does it?
David Goodman writes a solid story with a moral dilemma. What if people are wanting to worship the way they want to worship despite their endangering their own lives? Missionaries….except in Space, but going across borders they should not be allowed in. Look past the excellent David Cabeza artist depictions of Seth McFarlane and crew, and you get a real solid “real-life” dilemma. What if I am charged with your safety, but your religious beliefs endanger both yourself and me?
His foreshadowing use of an historical battle between Christians hits at home too. Goodman does his satirical homework!
The fictional Krill religion, as written by Goodman, resembles aspects of Christianity in daily study of scripture and prayer before meals”. However, Goodman veers off a bit in the religion’s use of a severed head. I guess you have to put some ridiculous aspect to make it “science fiction”. However, the moral dilemma is more of science fact than fiction.
I am anxious to see how this story unfolds, as the Krill religion followers, have used their engineering know-how to veer the Orville off course. They are now thirty-five light years across the Krill border. And this is an act of war.
Negatives
I take no negatives with a writer that makes you critically think. And Goodman does just that in this issue. However, with his script coming out of a Seth McFarlane drawn character may detract from it.
Verdict
Dark Horse’s The Orville is short enough into its run that you can pick up the first and second issues. However, this issue is a bit of a high brow treasure. Don’t judge a book by its cover (although this is wonderfully drawn). There is more than meets the eye in reading The Orville!
