Weekly Comic Book Review

By Orson Scott Card (creator), Mike Carey (writer), Sebastian Fiumara (art), Giulia Brusco (colors)

The Story: We are taken to the streets of Rotterdam in a future where they world is struggling with the aftermath of an alien invasion and the resulting intergalactic war. The streets are full of homeless and destitute children that band together in groups for protection from the older kids. We meet Bean, the smallest of children, but the biggest in terms of intellect and insight. He develops a system that utilizes the children’s greatest threat, the bullying older children, to help the group obtain food. However, his plan produces a direct threat to his life and he opts for an escape offered through a local monastery. Little does he know that because of his extraordinary intellect, he is  really being recruited for an elite force of children to battle the extraterrestrial threat.

What’s Good: This is a great issue on many levels. The story is told intriguingly while being sandwiched in between a conversation with a nun and a space-colonel that infuses this common orphan tale with a sense of galactic destiny.  The characters, especially Bean, are convincing and sympathetic. Mike Carey writes great dialogue that draws the reader into the group dynamics, and adds just a touch of bad English that lends a foreign feel to the setting.

The art by Sebastian Fiumara is exceptional. I’m uncertain if he is related to Max Fiumara– the artist of Image’s Four Eyes, but thier work is very similar and equally impressive. I really look forward to seeing his designs for the space and more heavy science fiction themed dimensions of this series.

What’s Not So Good: Um….nothing!

Conclusion: I was hesitant to pick up this title after concluding that the other Ender’s series, Ender’s Game, which is out right now, would be a much better read in trade format. However, this is a great stand-alone comic with great pacing and a lot of quality content. Unlike Ender’s Game,  this hasn’t kept me from enjoying this comic in the slightest.  The only factor keeping me from giving this comic an A or higher is because it is not an original story, but rather an adaptation.

Grade: B+

-Rob G.

Filed under: Marvel Comics, Reviews | Tagged: Battle School, Ender, Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, Ender's Shadow #1, Ender's Shadow #1 Review, Giulia Brusco, Mike Carey, Orson Scott Card, Sebastian Fiumara