Those looking for an X-Men spinoff book might find themselves disappointed, as writer Kevin J. Anderson seems to go out of his way to avoid as many established Marvel Universe elements as possible here. Basically, this is, aside from trademarked names, a new science-fiction adventure property altogether, as far as I can tell. Overall, the script is fairly accessible as a result. There are a lot of new characters to get to know here. There's just one problem: Anderson fails to get me to care about any of them. Garza captures a sense of the exotic and alien in the characters and settings, but the colors get muddy and hazy toward the end of the issue.
Tolo Hawk, a newly admitted military cadet, accompanies his social-climbing father on a journey on a royal flagship carrying Princess Sabra, monarch of the Union of of Intelligent Races. The princess befriends Tolo, as he's Sabra isn't the only precious cargo on board, though, as pirates known as the Starjammers, led by a plant-like Thorn alien named Captain Kalyx, attack in order to pillage the ship of a shipment of powerful narcotic called Hyrax. The real danger, though, isn't the pirate attack, but the betrayal planned by one of the princess's most trusted advisers.
Garza's linework here is clean and clear. Some of his past efforts have been sketchy and boasted a rushed look, but that's not the case here at all. The level of detail here is actually a little bit overwhelming, but it captures an alien and advanced feel. There are a number of human characters here, but there are also some alien designs that are really inventive, going beyond the typical humanoid alien design that relies chiefly on a different skin color to set them apart. The art's a bit busy at times, though, but the biggest problem with the visuals is how the colors take on a darker and muddied tone later on in the issue. Everything is so crisp and clear in the first half. I suppose one could argue that the colorist was trying to add some tension with the darker tones, but the effort isn't successful.
One of the problems with this script is that the first scene is dominated by the tedious and self-involved dialogue of Tolo's father. I realize the character is meant to be portrayed that way, but it's not the way to introduce the reader to a strange new world. I liked the idea of the Thorns, but as a longtime Marvel reader, I was puzzled as to how they entered the Starjammers picture. In an odd way, this property is inaccessible for readers who are aware of the background.
One of the reasons Star Trek was such an enduring science-fiction property is that its writers used it to tell grounded stories about the future that reflected the realities of the day in which they were crafted. I've sampled a little bit of Kevin J. Anderson's science-fiction writing -- this comic book and his recent The Saga of the Seven Suns:Veiled Alliances graphic novel from DC/Wildstorm -- and I just don't see the same down-to-earth approach at play. The characters' humanity is lost in the exotic and fantastic elements.
