Review: The Orville #3: Heroes 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
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.
Dark Horse transport readers back into space with another two-part adventure featuring the voyages of the Starship Orville. In The Orville #3: Heroes Part 1 the inhabitants of a planet known only as HR 5070 have developed advanced technologies that should be far beyond their grasp. The Okudum should not possess the means to create a quantum reactor, yet after scans clearly show the presence of such a device, the crew of the Orville is sent to investigate.
Each of these Orville stories gives fans background information of certain members of the Orville’s crew. In Heroes, it’s Ensign Talla who’s history is expanded on. She’s an expert on the Okudum and the alien race holds a special place in her heart.
David Goodman allows this story to be a “tongue in cheek” or a
full out “raspberry” at the Star Trek series where exploration is key and not interference into the political landscape of any planet.
I also keep seeing the graphic depictions of Seth McFarlane and expecting a joke or two or five. Nothing… The Orville takes itself more seriously than the television series. It reminds me of Gold Key comic adaptations of Star Trek.
Negatives
The earlier issues were “meatier” where this one is a paler imitation of the series as well as its preceding issues. The Orville is a bit lost in trying to find out if it is a drama comic, a comedy comic, or a dramedy comic.
Let’s hope Seth McFarlane interjects something into this medium, so the comic can go where no other comics have gone before.
Verdict
Dark Horse’s The Orville is short enough into its run that you can pick up the entire collection at this point. This issue is a great homage or tribute to some Star Trek policies that we may have not agreed upon back in the day. Don’t judge a book by its cover (although this is wonderfully drawn). There is more than meets the eye in reading The Orville!
