The disappearance of Space Shuttle Venture and her crew marks the beginning of the end. The American Space Program is shut down as a result, and it's paralleled by a dark cloud looming over the whole country... maybe the world. When Venture returns 10 years later, though, manned only by her commander, the government gathers together a trio of experts to solve the mystery of her disappearance... and the bizarre, organic compound that now coats her exterior and interior walls.
Doran's artwork is quite the surprise. She's known for her soft, detailed style, and while the detail remains an important element in her work on this graphic novel, she instills a slightly more angular, harsher quality in her linework here. It works incredibly well, given the darker atmosphere and tension that Ellis maintains through the script. At times, her work on Orbiter reminded me of David Lloyd's dark style, sometimes with detail that would rival John (Planetary) Cassaday's artwork. Dave Stewart's muted colors reinforce the creepy aura looming over the story quite well too.
The only aspect of the visuals here that didn't sit well with was the poor production quality to be found on the two pages featureing Ellis's heartfelt foreword. The yellow font isn't as crisp against the dark background. Thin hyphens are lost altogether, and it made it just a little difficult to read. Fortunately, that's a minor point in an otherwise beautiful package.
Orbiter reminds me more than a little of Ellis's Planetary, as it's about a group of specialists trying to solve a fantastic mystery. The difference here -- and what makes this graphic novel stand apart as something truly special -- is that the specialists are far more real, small and vulnerable. Their excitement and fear makes it easy to relate to them, makes it easy to imagine oneself in this dark near-future.
The greatest strength of this story is how is slowly but surely shifts in tone, from one of foreboding and danger, to one of hope and adventure. Ellis surprises the reader with what is essentially an optimistic story, about rising above ourselves, about risk.
Though it was a horrible tragedy, the destruction of the space shuttle Columbia earlier this year serves as an important context for this story... one that enhances Ellis's message. In the wake of seven unimaginable deaths, it would be easy for American -- for the world -- to turn its back on space exploration. In many ways, we already have. In recent years, the space program has been about looking back down at the planet rather than to the stars. Ellis reminds us to look at the universe beyond our atmosphere with something more than detached scientific observation, but with a sense of wonder and curiosity.
