As I initially made my way through this book, it seemed like a typical science-fiction military action book. We've seen this sort of thing before, from Battlestar Galactica to Robotech, and that fare tends not to draw me in. The art is undeniably strong and unique, though, but the book gets interesting toward the end of the issue, when Lobdell finally reveals what's going to set this sci-fi story apart. Unfortunately, the story just barely gets underway by the end of the issue, and I found my appetite was barely whetted. I'm not entirely hooked on the book yet, but I'm definitely more interested than I expected to be at this point.
Admiral Kyle Bozydej is an old soldier who finds himself without a war. As the launch of a new ship in his honor approaches, he reflects back on a time when he fought bitterly against Earth's alien enemies, the Trillians. Today, they are Earth's allies, and they're even among the crew members on the ship. If that weren't enough, his granddaughter is engaged to a Trillian, and it's difficult for Bozedej not to see the face of the being who once tortured him decades ago. But peace has come to the galaxy, and that's a good thing... but that peace is shattered when a new enemy unleashes a devastating assault.
Nguyen brings an airy quality to bear here, and the looser approach to the art is surprisingly effective given the sci-fi tone of the story. The colors reinforces the dreamy quality of the storytelling. Ngyuen's striking, eye-catching approach here is unlike what we've seen from him before, unlike just about any other comic art. This project is going to turn heads in the industry, I would imagine, and Nguyen will soon find himself following in the footsteps of Leinil Francis (Superman: Birthright) Yu and Pascual (Adam Strange) Ferry in how his new efforts will find him fans among readers and industry editors.
The tough-guy soldier scene that serves to open this series is terribly cliched and did nothing for me. It's impossible to relate to a guy who shrugs off inhumane torture like it was nothing more than a personal insult. This stereotypical macho characterization makes it difficult to see the main character as a human being rather than an impossibly perfect hero archetype.
Where the story gets interesting is in the revelation of the new enemy facing the futuristic empire. the new bad guys aren't a sadistic alien race but a gathering of magical creatures whose powers and efforts defy the rules of the sci-fi universe. This isn't Earth at war with monsters, but a war between the genres. Science-fiction faces off against sword-and-sorcery fantasy. The clash of such radically different genres isn't a liability but the core premise, and it's a clever twist that might just be enough to help this book stand out among the throngs on comic-shop shelves. 6/10
