(2005) Roger McKenzie, Ernie Colon, Walt Simonson and Klaus Janson, Titan Books, £14.99, trdpbk, 140pp, ISBN 1-84023-930-1
It's been 27 years since Battlestar Galactica became a phenomenon on our TV screens and it has never completely left. Following an attack on the Colonies by the Cylons, an evil race obsessed with the destruction of all humankind, the Battlestar Galactica leads a rag-tag fugitive fleet of survivors on a dangerous journey in an attempt to find the fabled Thirteenth Colony, known as Earth. It is their last chance for survival and the show, novels and comics are full of stories of their journey as they seek salvation for their desperate population. 2005 saw the re-birth of the show with the Sci-Fi Channel's re-imagined series which, in turn, has spawned a new thirst for Galactica merchandise, both new series and old. It therefore isn't surprising that Titan Books have re-issued a collection of the original comics, compiled in this graphic novel.
Not being a comic book reader, I was rather dubious as to how much I would enjoy this collection, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The stories are well-constructed and maintain a good pace. As each comic included in this collection (of which there are seven) is pretty much self-contained, it is very easy to pick up and read for ten minutes here and there. Familiarity with the characters and basic story outline is very much an advantage, but the stories do stand alone and can be enjoyed by all. The first two stories cover the attack on the Colonies, so newcomers can pick up the storyline. The artwork on each comic is expressive and complements the text perfectly.
The collection is introduced by Richard Hatch, who played the dashing Apollo from the original series. His love of the show and on-going fondness for it shines through his words - it's a love for the show that is shared by many others. There then follows a number of features on the phenomenon the show became and the immense amount of merchandise that was marketed on the back of its success. The collection is rounded off by blueprints of the Colonial Viper, the Galactica, the Cylon Raider, and the Cylon Star Base; a nice little aside for the more technically-minded out there. All in all a worthwhile collection for fans of the show but, for non-fans, the price tag of £14.99 may prove to be a little steep.
Julie Haves
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