Mike@Pilots Chamber
12-12-2010, 09:49 AM
And we're back with the second part of Scorpy's adventures in the Farscape comic universe, and it's a different kettle of fish entirely.
The Inglorious Basterds storyline is split into two halves really. Having managed to get into a position of power within the invading Kkore army, Scorpius is tested by them to conquer the Scarran empire - a challenge he relishes. However, once at the doorstep of his old captors, the Kkore reveal to him that he must conquer them entirely on his own. No backup force, no weapons, nothing but his own wit. Bluffing for all he's worth, Scorpius actually manages to accomplish this task as the Scarrans surrender voluntarily to him.
The second half of the story concerns the Kkore's build-up for the war for the Uncharted Territories. Quite simply, they intend to overpower everything in their path and have been preparing for many years. Though Scorpius had his mind read by the Kkore's version of an aurora chair, he thinks he's managed to keep some secrets, retaining some knowledge to keep him valuable. This isn't the case - the Kkore took it all, and Scorpius is left wondering whether he really wants to be part of the Kkore at all. He is fearful of the size of their force, yet he will always remain an underling. Even trying to drive a wedge in the relationships of various Kkore political members does not work - the Kkore simply believe in helping the whole and not themselves, have no personal ambitions or envy. Then the truth behind the Kkore is revealed - the UTs are simply a small battleground to them. They are engaged in many other battles across space in many other universes and dimensions. Quite simply, it seems they intend to conquer all of reality and what we've seen so far in the Farscape universe is only one small part of it.
Finally, Aeryn is revealed as the new leader of the Peacekeepers. The Kkore were expecting Grayza and this doesn't fit into their plans. Scorpius could illuminate them - the Kkore have no idea what the Moya crew can do. He decides not to however, simply because then he knows something the Kkore do not - he has some small advantage. Again he wrestles with his conscience - work with the Kkore or return to the new Peacekeepers, where he would undoubtably gain a position of power with Aeryn in charge. He's unsure he likes where the Kkore's grand plan is heading, but stays with the Kkore. However, he knows that there's no more unpredictable element than Crichton.
And that's the longest recap I've ever given. Scorpius is showing his complexity here, with flashbacks to his youth, his thoughts on the Kkore plan and insights. The script is good - we're given a very good idea of the Kkore and their thoughts, how cunning they are and how, even while they regard Scorpius as a useful ally, they still won't fully trust him.
Artwork is handled well, with art by Gordon Purcell (who I think has done some previous Farscape stuff before but I can't remember what) and colouring by Nolan Woodard. It's a rough feel but I do like these - it shows that a fair bit of handiwork has gone into creating what we see. Whilst it's not quite up to the same standard as the previous Scorpius series, at least for me, it's still very good, especially the larger scenes showing the Kkore and Grennij conquests.
Covers don't let up either as, aside from the third issue, they're all great montages (even the third issue is a great action scene, which traditionally I dislike). I would say my favourite is a toss-up between the third and fourth covers.
Overall though, the comic - well, it wouldn't work as an episode. It is disjointed and a lot of it is build-up. It does work as a comic, but not particularly well. The first two issues are covering Scorpy versus the Scarrans, with the final two showing him wrestling with his conscience and his admiration of the Kkore. However, what is best about the comic is the insights into Scorpius' thoughts the whole time. Carrying on from the last series, much of the dialogue is actually Scorpy's internal monologue which really shines.
As such, I'm going to give the comic a 4. The monologue is perfect, the art very good, but is let down by the pacing. It can't decide whether it wants to be one flowing story or a series of events (as the excellent D'Argo's Trial was).
The Inglorious Basterds storyline is split into two halves really. Having managed to get into a position of power within the invading Kkore army, Scorpius is tested by them to conquer the Scarran empire - a challenge he relishes. However, once at the doorstep of his old captors, the Kkore reveal to him that he must conquer them entirely on his own. No backup force, no weapons, nothing but his own wit. Bluffing for all he's worth, Scorpius actually manages to accomplish this task as the Scarrans surrender voluntarily to him.
The second half of the story concerns the Kkore's build-up for the war for the Uncharted Territories. Quite simply, they intend to overpower everything in their path and have been preparing for many years. Though Scorpius had his mind read by the Kkore's version of an aurora chair, he thinks he's managed to keep some secrets, retaining some knowledge to keep him valuable. This isn't the case - the Kkore took it all, and Scorpius is left wondering whether he really wants to be part of the Kkore at all. He is fearful of the size of their force, yet he will always remain an underling. Even trying to drive a wedge in the relationships of various Kkore political members does not work - the Kkore simply believe in helping the whole and not themselves, have no personal ambitions or envy. Then the truth behind the Kkore is revealed - the UTs are simply a small battleground to them. They are engaged in many other battles across space in many other universes and dimensions. Quite simply, it seems they intend to conquer all of reality and what we've seen so far in the Farscape universe is only one small part of it.
Finally, Aeryn is revealed as the new leader of the Peacekeepers. The Kkore were expecting Grayza and this doesn't fit into their plans. Scorpius could illuminate them - the Kkore have no idea what the Moya crew can do. He decides not to however, simply because then he knows something the Kkore do not - he has some small advantage. Again he wrestles with his conscience - work with the Kkore or return to the new Peacekeepers, where he would undoubtably gain a position of power with Aeryn in charge. He's unsure he likes where the Kkore's grand plan is heading, but stays with the Kkore. However, he knows that there's no more unpredictable element than Crichton.
And that's the longest recap I've ever given. Scorpius is showing his complexity here, with flashbacks to his youth, his thoughts on the Kkore plan and insights. The script is good - we're given a very good idea of the Kkore and their thoughts, how cunning they are and how, even while they regard Scorpius as a useful ally, they still won't fully trust him.
Artwork is handled well, with art by Gordon Purcell (who I think has done some previous Farscape stuff before but I can't remember what) and colouring by Nolan Woodard. It's a rough feel but I do like these - it shows that a fair bit of handiwork has gone into creating what we see. Whilst it's not quite up to the same standard as the previous Scorpius series, at least for me, it's still very good, especially the larger scenes showing the Kkore and Grennij conquests.
Covers don't let up either as, aside from the third issue, they're all great montages (even the third issue is a great action scene, which traditionally I dislike). I would say my favourite is a toss-up between the third and fourth covers.
Overall though, the comic - well, it wouldn't work as an episode. It is disjointed and a lot of it is build-up. It does work as a comic, but not particularly well. The first two issues are covering Scorpy versus the Scarrans, with the final two showing him wrestling with his conscience and his admiration of the Kkore. However, what is best about the comic is the insights into Scorpius' thoughts the whole time. Carrying on from the last series, much of the dialogue is actually Scorpy's internal monologue which really shines.
As such, I'm going to give the comic a 4. The monologue is perfect, the art very good, but is let down by the pacing. It can't decide whether it wants to be one flowing story or a series of events (as the excellent D'Argo's Trial was).