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A review by zare_i
Orphans Vol. 1: The Beginning by Roberto Recchioni
5.0
Sergio Bonnelli's comics are works that have left very big marks in my youth. What they manage to do very well is to merge whole bunch of things from various other stories and produce a book that will keep you spellbound 'til the very end. If you do not believe just look at Nathan Never (including spin offs), Mr. No, Martyn Mystery and Dylan Dog to just name the few.
Orphans series (volume 1 here collects first three issues) is a mix of Starship Troopers, Ender's Game and Orphanage series by Robert Buettner.
After unknown alien enemy incinerates the Earth and causes death of 20% population, Earth governments decide to strike back. In search of good candidates they start with picking up survivors of the attack that are young and without any relations - in other words orphans.
What follows is story told through two viewpoints: one, linked to events of recruitment of orphans and their training that is merciless and aims to weed off the weak, and other one that is set years in the future where aliens are identified and newly formed Earth forces start the counter attack.
Characters of orphans and their instructors are given beautifully. Do note, as few reviewers mentioned already, that story describing training days is more about characters, their inner fightings and the way kids generally see the world around them (world is definitely different when one is young). Story about the invasion is more action oriented and (at least in this volume) there is not much character development. In any case I am sure that follow up volumes will continue the more detailed story of our heroes.
Please note that this is book where people die, there is not much of a happy endings, except what merriment our heroes can extract from their every day activities. They are maltreated by their instructors with a single purpose - to make them a formidable force able to cope with unknown danger from space.
Art is truly great, I would especially like to point out the coloring. It is is exquisite. This is a book in a format that might be confusing to readers that did not come across it before- every page is split across two panels, there is not that much dynamic on the pages (like panel in panel etc). It is very much reminiscent of the golden age comic strip.
Great read and great adventure. Cannot wait for volume two.
Highly recommended.
Orphans series (volume 1 here collects first three issues) is a mix of Starship Troopers, Ender's Game and Orphanage series by Robert Buettner.
After unknown alien enemy incinerates the Earth and causes death of 20% population, Earth governments decide to strike back. In search of good candidates they start with picking up survivors of the attack that are young and without any relations - in other words orphans.
What follows is story told through two viewpoints: one, linked to events of recruitment of orphans and their training that is merciless and aims to weed off the weak, and other one that is set years in the future where aliens are identified and newly formed Earth forces start the counter attack.
Characters of orphans and their instructors are given beautifully. Do note, as few reviewers mentioned already, that story describing training days is more about characters, their inner fightings and the way kids generally see the world around them (world is definitely different when one is young). Story about the invasion is more action oriented and (at least in this volume) there is not much character development. In any case I am sure that follow up volumes will continue the more detailed story of our heroes.
Please note that this is book where people die, there is not much of a happy endings, except what merriment our heroes can extract from their every day activities. They are maltreated by their instructors with a single purpose - to make them a formidable force able to cope with unknown danger from space.
Art is truly great, I would especially like to point out the coloring. It is is exquisite. This is a book in a format that might be confusing to readers that did not come across it before- every page is split across two panels, there is not that much dynamic on the pages (like panel in panel etc). It is very much reminiscent of the golden age comic strip.
Great read and great adventure. Cannot wait for volume two.
Highly recommended.