By Orson Scott Card (Story), Christopher Yost (Writer) and Pasqual Ferry (Artist), Frank D’Armata (Colors)
The Story: Humanity’s existence is threatened by alien invaders (known as “Buggers” in the novel, here called “Formics,” Latin for “Ant”) who have already destroyed several colony planets. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, Earth’s military commanders have decided to entrust tactical command of their last-ditch assault to whichever of a group of child geniuses does best in a series of war games at their Battle School. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is one of the children chosen. He is also, through a special exception to strict population control laws, his parents’ third child, and his homicidal older brother Peter hates him for it.
What’s Good: Orson Scott Card’s Hugo and Nebula award winning original is one of the greatest Science Fiction novels of the past thirty years, easily up there with Neuromancer and Snow Crash.
What’s Not So Good: Ender’s Game is not one of those stories that hits hard on page one. It builds slowly, letting us get to know Ender as a semi-average boy, so the hardships to come seem all the more unbearable. Unfortunately, that means the first issue is pretty unremarkable. Ferry’s art is as always, beautiful but dull, with no subtlety of expression or dynamics of composition.
Conclusion: For those of us who have read the book, this series may seem redundant, since it doesn’t add anything that isn’t in the original. (Most of the dialogue is lifted word for word.) For those that haven’t, this is a good place to start, if you can stand waiting between installments.
Grade: B-
- Andrew C. Murphy
Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: Christopher Yost, Ender's Game, Ender's Game #1, Ender's Game: Battle School #1, Frank D'Armata, Marvel Comics, Orson Scott Card, Pasqual Ferry
