Alien Legion: Uncivil War #1
Titan Comics
Story: Chuck Dixon
Pencils: Larry Stroman
Inks and Soul: Carl Potts
Colors: Thomas Mason
Letters: Gabriela Houston
Reviewed by: Robert McClelland
Summary: In a galaxy savaged by strife, torn by civil war, boiling with spilt blood, Alien Legion is a cosmic military force doing its damnedest to keep the peace by being always ready for war.
At the tip of the Legion's multi-species spear is Force Nomad – the worst of the worst fashioned on the white-hot forge of battle into the best of the best. Now the squad's grizzled veterans are on what should be a boring milk run; shepherding refugees fleeing a civil war ripping apart their system. Could be a good chance to to toughen the newbies of Nomad into soldiers... until straight-up peacekeeping descends into full-scale war!
Review: One of the things that kept coming to mind as I read this title from start to finish, was the heavy amount of dialogue that ran through the book. I honestly don't even remember the last time I read a comic with this much dialogue in it. Now I'm not necessarily saying the heavy amount of dialogue is bad, but to me it felt like there was more talking then action considering the chaos that is going on in the universe. Chuck is giving readers a universe that is about ready for full on war with a group known as the Harkilons due to differences of opinion. And everyone else getting caught in the cross fire if my understanding of things is right. Larry, Carl, and Thomas all do a nice job in their respective creative duties for the book, as they manage to give each alien we see in this title their own distinctive look. The fact this doesn't seem too heavy on having a lot of humans in it is also a nice touch as it makes things even more nicely alien like. The dialogue is again something I have to mention as a lot of it feels like something you might find yourself hearing in a Western film, or something like Firefly. Which has me wondering if Chuck is a fan of Westerns.
Gabriela does a very nice job with her lettering, and the fact that when certain aliens talk and you can't even understand them is also a very nice touch. As for me, its not all that fun if you are easily able to understand right off the bat. And while we have a nice cast of characters, the fast pace this book has as things happen from one moment to the next while barely a breather seems to be about. Makes it somewhat hard to feel that certain kind of a bond of either liking or not liking a character for whatever reason. However, one that seems to have an odd way of pronouncing his words is someone I feel can connect with as I do that myself at times. Though one of the characters getting birthing goo on him was something I admit I found fairly amusing. And as I understand, this is a new on going for the title. Unfortunately however, I haven't read anything of what came before this. However I wouldn't mind as it could potentially help me to be more familiar with any characters from this issue that may be in the previous.
And as the issue wraps up, an unfortunate event occurs that sends what is supposed to be simple escorting into something that may be largely unpleasant. Chuck nicely leaves readers with a cliff hanger and I know I certainly want to see what happens next. I like that the end of the issue also comes with some definitions of a few words this universe has. As it helps somewhat to get more familiar with it. So if you're looking for a little Sci-Fi to read in your comics, be sure to give this a look at!
3 out of 5 Stars
Editor's Note: If this sounds like something for you to check out, head on over to Titan Comics today!
Titan Comics
Story: Chuck Dixon
Pencils: Larry Stroman
Inks and Soul: Carl Potts
Colors: Thomas Mason
Letters: Gabriela Houston
Reviewed by: Robert McClelland
Summary: In a galaxy savaged by strife, torn by civil war, boiling with spilt blood, Alien Legion is a cosmic military force doing its damnedest to keep the peace by being always ready for war.
At the tip of the Legion's multi-species spear is Force Nomad – the worst of the worst fashioned on the white-hot forge of battle into the best of the best. Now the squad's grizzled veterans are on what should be a boring milk run; shepherding refugees fleeing a civil war ripping apart their system. Could be a good chance to to toughen the newbies of Nomad into soldiers... until straight-up peacekeeping descends into full-scale war!
Review: One of the things that kept coming to mind as I read this title from start to finish, was the heavy amount of dialogue that ran through the book. I honestly don't even remember the last time I read a comic with this much dialogue in it. Now I'm not necessarily saying the heavy amount of dialogue is bad, but to me it felt like there was more talking then action considering the chaos that is going on in the universe. Chuck is giving readers a universe that is about ready for full on war with a group known as the Harkilons due to differences of opinion. And everyone else getting caught in the cross fire if my understanding of things is right. Larry, Carl, and Thomas all do a nice job in their respective creative duties for the book, as they manage to give each alien we see in this title their own distinctive look. The fact this doesn't seem too heavy on having a lot of humans in it is also a nice touch as it makes things even more nicely alien like. The dialogue is again something I have to mention as a lot of it feels like something you might find yourself hearing in a Western film, or something like Firefly. Which has me wondering if Chuck is a fan of Westerns.
Gabriela does a very nice job with her lettering, and the fact that when certain aliens talk and you can't even understand them is also a very nice touch. As for me, its not all that fun if you are easily able to understand right off the bat. And while we have a nice cast of characters, the fast pace this book has as things happen from one moment to the next while barely a breather seems to be about. Makes it somewhat hard to feel that certain kind of a bond of either liking or not liking a character for whatever reason. However, one that seems to have an odd way of pronouncing his words is someone I feel can connect with as I do that myself at times. Though one of the characters getting birthing goo on him was something I admit I found fairly amusing. And as I understand, this is a new on going for the title. Unfortunately however, I haven't read anything of what came before this. However I wouldn't mind as it could potentially help me to be more familiar with any characters from this issue that may be in the previous.
And as the issue wraps up, an unfortunate event occurs that sends what is supposed to be simple escorting into something that may be largely unpleasant. Chuck nicely leaves readers with a cliff hanger and I know I certainly want to see what happens next. I like that the end of the issue also comes with some definitions of a few words this universe has. As it helps somewhat to get more familiar with it. So if you're looking for a little Sci-Fi to read in your comics, be sure to give this a look at!
3 out of 5 Stars
Editor's Note: If this sounds like something for you to check out, head on over to Titan Comics today!