Oni Press 2013
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque
Coloured by Dan Jackson
Relationships on the Clarke have become strained. Many of the crew no longer trust Gomez, both because of the spreading alien infection taking over his body and failure to convince the Builders to help get a message to Earth. They desperately seek an alternate method to warn their home planet of the massive asteroid headed straight for it.
President Blades, determined to end World War III once and for all (and reluctant to use the space-based LEOPRD super-laser to do it), approved a plan to commit all remaining U.S. forces to an invasion of Germany. It’s a last-ditch effort to take the A.F.E. capital in Berlin - and if it fails, the U.S.-led coalition loses.
Francis is still telling his tale to Sonja when he’s interrupted and called to a meeting to discuss President Blades invasion of the other countries. Who is still in power here is quite clear and though Blades may be the current elected official running the country Francis is the real man in charge here and while he’s using Sonja to spin things so what he has to say is the only viable option to save the world it’s still fun to see it all unfold the way Charles is telling it.
Meanwhile on board the Clarke the crew still tries their hardest to find a way to communicate with those on Earth and warn them of the impending danger. Though dealing with this alien biotechnology isn’t something they having an easy time figuring out. Stress and time constraints are really putting a strain on them and we see that in the dialogue between them it’s really done spectacularly. The chances they are taking will hopefully warn the Earth of what’s coming but it could also put them in immediate grave danger from the aliens they are currently dealing with it really is a fantastic dilemma and a precarious situation to put it mildly.
Back on Earth President Blades forces aren’t prepared for what they are going to face and the technology that has been developed in other countries in on what’s happening. I love the special effects that Alberto and Dan are bringing us. The stealth technology being used and how we see it unfold is incredibly well done. It makes what’s happening more exciting and it definitely puts President Blade’s forces on notice that they aren’t the pre-eminent force on the planet.
When we see President Blades again this issue it becomes quite clear he has no idea what he’s really doing and I love the conversation he has with the men around him there’s even one profound statement made that really sticks with me as a reader and you’ll have to read it to see it for yourself. Suffice it to say it’s that strong and makes you see things a little differently when you look at a leader of a nation.
The end of this issue is utterly amazing! Blades really is something of a moron in my humble opinion but he’s doing the best he can under the circumstances. When you play the power game you’d better be prepared to lose and holding the cards to close to the vest for too long well we see what that can result in here.
It’s really no wonder why i’m a huge fan of this series and it’s creative team. There’s an excitement you get from this book that’s almost inexplicable and it at times leaves you breathless and at others screaming “what are doing” to the characters and it’s the fact that it touches on such levels is what makes a top read every month.