The Orbiting Pod Episode 49 from Orbiting Pod on Vimeo.

By Sylvain Runberg and Serge Pellé

Cinebook

I’m rather in a muddle over Orbital; first I sort of liked it, although recognised the flaws of a first volume that spent so long dawdling along on the setup that an eventual Aliens-esque firefight at the end seemed overly rushed.

The second volume was flawed, but almost in reverse, doing the big blockbuster opener and dispatching the big bugs from the end of volume 1 within a few pages, and returning to the sci-fi political thriller it was setup to be all along, and then spoiling it all over again by rather blowing the ending.

Volume 3 fared so much better, concentrating far harder on the complex diplomatic and political manoeuvring behind the story – a real improvement, and thankfully, one that continues into this fourth, concluding volume of the Second Mission storyline.

Orbital follows a standard Euro format of a 2 volume splitting a single storyline – setup and conclusion across two volumes. And despite enjoying it, I can’t help but feel that Runberg hasn’t quite got it just right yet. The potential is there certainly, but right now the Orbital series is satisfying and enjoyable enough, but it’s flaws are just a little too glaring, a little too obvious – a fly in the ointment.

As it’s the concluding part of the storyline, I’ll not concentrate too much on the story. But a quick recap, as included in the review of Volume 3:

It’s the 23rd Century and humanity is now the newest member of an 8000 year old intergalactic multi-species alliance, but only as some perceived overly violent toddler of a species. Into this mess steps Caleb Swany, the first human to join the alliance’s peace-keeping force; the Interworld Diplomatic Office (IDO). And just to add a little tension to it all, his assigned partner, Mezoke Izzua, is one of the Sandjarr race.

Following the events of the first two volumes, Caleb and Mezoke are on Earth for the celebrations to mark the end of the Human-Sandjarr war. But what initially seems like a simple diplomatic mission quickly derails as an incident in the freshly repopulated seas off Malaysia threatens to overshadow the pomp and ceremony of two cultures coming together. The investigation, into the alleged aggression of the nomadic alien race the Rapakhun against the fishermensoon brings up several mysteries, and it’s quickly clear that there’s a lot more to the simple incident that Caleb and Mezoke first think.

Caleb and Mezoke pursue their separate ideas and agendas, eventual managing to identify the cause of the Malaysian deaths thanks to the mysterious pilot Nina and the even more mysterious craft Angus. But the killer is now at large in Kuala Lumpa, and Caleb, Mezoke, Nina and Angus have a potentially disasterous situation to avert and in their race to draw the killer away from the city, away from Malaysia, could they be in terrible danger themselves?

(Death stalks the streets of Kuala Lumpur, from from Orbital Volume 3, written by Runberg, art by Pellé, published by Cinebook)

There’s so much here that Runberg is doing right – the political background is tense and tight, the killer is beautifully, and horrifically portrayed, and the slow reveal of the killer’s identity really well paced – in all those things Runberg produces something of a great sci-fi political thriller.

But again, the ending seems rushed, Nina and Angus come, perhaps not to the rescue, but certainly as something of a convenient Deus Ex Machina resolution, and the whole thing is over too soon.

(Nina and her ship Angus, little used throughout Orbital, until Runberg needs a convenient solution – from from Orbital Volume 3, written by Runberg, art by Pellé, published by Cinebook)

One thing that does shine through my confusion over my feelings for the series is an increasing sense of awe at Pellé’s artwork. I love what he does on a page, his layouts are gorgeous, his various alien cultures believable yet satisfyingly otherworldly, but more than anything else it’s his sheer ability to stop me dead in my tracks with a page of reflection.

I picked up on it last time, and it happened again, several times throughout the course of Ravages, beautiful pages of quiet reflection, or the stunning, rain-soaked pages of Caleb hunting through the Malaysian mangrove swamps – his environments are just gorgeous.

(Quiet, perfectly paced, beautifully drawn work from Orbital Volume 3, written by Runberg, sublime art by Pellé, published by Cinebook)

This fourth volume was published by Dupuis in October 2010. And there have been no more published since then. At this point I have no idea whether we’ll see anymore, and if we don’t it will be a shame, as Runberg really is getting there, getting so close to nailing the perfect Euro Sci-Fi epic you can feel he wants to tell. And without giving anything away, the ending to this fourth volume does rather leave us hanging, and as a finale to the 4 volume series it’s again, an unsatisfying and inauspicious end to something that’s shown some grand potential throughout.

UPDATE – 19th AUG – Sylvain Runberg gets in touch with us through the comments to inform us that Volume 5 (the first part of the third mission) will be published in French sometime in Spring 2012)

By Sylvain Runberg and Serge Pellé

Cinebook

I didn’t do my research at the end of the first couple of volumes of Orbital (reviews – Volume 1 & Volume 2) and really thought it was a simple two volume series. But what I did see I thought was a decent enough slab of European Sci-Fi, albeit a little too limited in its storyline and one whose flaws were a little too large to be overlooked:

“…..However, all of these criticisms can’t take away the fact that Orbital is actually rather an entertaining Sci-Fi thriller with a lot of good stuff on it’s pages. ….But it’s a book that can’t quite decide what it wants to be, as evidenced by the sudden, dramatic change of emphasis right at the end of volume one.”

“(the) return to the political sci-fi thriller is, of course, a good thing, because Orbital is a rather entertaining example of good, huge sci-fi that European comics seem to do so well. And it almost, nearly, just about pulls it off. And then we get a particularly clunky deux ex machina ending that almost completely ruins the whole thing. … It doesn’t completely spoil the Orbital experience, it’s still a fun sci-fi story, but the ending does somewhat deaden the enjoyment. Shame.”

A quick recap of the setup here; It’s the 23rd Century and humanity is now the newest member of an 8000 year old intergalactic multi-species alliance, but only as some perceived overly violent toddler of a species. This view of humanity wasn’t helped by our first act of interplanetary contact being the slaughter, almost to extinction, of the pacifist Sandjarr people, simply because their planet was a valuable mining resource.

Into this mess steps Caleb Swany, the first human to join the alliance’s peace-keeping force; the Interworld Diplomatic Office (IDO). And just to add a little tension to it all, his assigned partner, Mezoke Izzua, is one of the Sandjarr race.

Following the events of the first two volumes, Caleb and Mezoke are on Earth for the celebrations to mark the end of the Human-Sandjarr war. But what initially seems like a simple diplomatic mission quickly derails as an incident in the freshly repopulated seas off Malaysia threatens to overshadow the pomp and ceremony of two cultures coming together.

The investigation, into the alleged aggresion of the nomadic alien race the Rapakhun against the fishermen, soon brings up several mysteries, and it’s quickly clear that there’s a lot more to the simple incident that Caleb and Mezoke first think.

As with Volumes 1 & 2, it’s good, old fashioned European sci-fi here. But where those first volumes were all about big action with a backdrop of looking at the political environment leading to Caleb’s induction into the IDO, this volume is knee deep in political manoeuvring and diplomatic agendas. It helps that the scale of the book, essentially a simple investigation of a fishing dispute caused by a rogue predator farmed by the Rapakhun, allows a far more thoughtful, diplomatic story, full of move and counter-move to come to the fore.

It’s a subtle, but interesting shift in the book’s focus. As is the altering relationship between Caleb and Mezoke. Where once she merely tolerated this humnan trainee, now she’s far more accepting of this proven member of the IDO. Caleb becomes far more confident in his role, taking the lead in the investigation. Mezke is more reticent, reluctant to interfere as events in her past, tied to Sandjarr’s political and social elite, plays too heavily on her mind. But Caleb’s past is also under the spotlight here, and it’s a past that could yet threaten his position in the IDO.

Orbital is good, but I just don’t think it’s as epic a sci-fi tale as others seem to. However, with the new focus on the diplomatic and political intrigues it’s become a far better story than the first two volumes led me to believe it could. I’m looking forward to Volume 4 of Orbital, the concluding part of this story that should be published in July.

One thing in Orbital that does really live up to an epic grandeur of the best sci-fi however is the invention and scale of Pellé’s artwork. It’s an interesting look, and somewhere in there I can see elements of artists as diverse as Moebius, Sam Keith, Ted McKeever, Jim Mahfood and Enki Bilal. But when it comes to artists I’m sure you’ll be able to add your own. What I do know is that there are panels and pages that are simply lovely to look at – with that quiet page of Caleb reflecting on past misdeeds one of my personal favourites.

Also in London the equally fine Orbital Comics mob have an event with David Hine and Shaky Kane signing the new Bulletproof Comic that Image just published (much recommended), also on Saturday 7th, at 5pm, followed by Steven Cook’s Shaky kane Unravelled documentary and a Q&A session.

Heading towards a more northward capital city and on the same Free Comic Book Day in sunny Edinburgh the Edinburgh League of Comics (Edward Ross, Fumio Obata and Tom Hunt) are hosting a free Drop in and Drawfrom 1 to 4.30pm in Newington Library on the city’s southside, which is convenient for a visit to the Edinburgh FP store on Southbridge for FCB then head on a few minutes further down the Southside to the library for more comics fun!

J.H.Williams III Interview – Part 1 from Orbital Comics on Vimeo.

Oh lucky comics folks in London, this week sees the opening of one of the major exhibitions to go with this year’s Comica, That’s Novel. There’s a special launch event tomorrow evening, Thursday 21st, and the exhibition runs fully from October 22nd to the 19th of December at the London Print Studio. From the description on the Comia page (just check out that arra of contributors!!!):

“From searing memoirs to global manga, from The Tower of Babel to The Walking Dead, discover the latest, greatest and up-to-datest in comics by leading international innovators and the British cutting edge, featuring art by: Charlie Adlard, Ho Che Anderson, Will Bingley, Brick, Darryl Cunningham, Karrie Fransman, Anthoney Hope-Smith, John Hicklenton, Robert Kirkman, Chie Kutsuwada, Metaphrog, John Miers, Mustashrik, Nobrow, The Pleece Brothers, Pulp Theatre, David Quantick, Paul Rainey, Philippa Rice, Savage Pencil, Sean Michael Wilson, Carlos Nine.”

Isn’t that a brilliant line-up of comics talent? Not that we’d expect anything less from the Comica crew, of course. I can see several personal faves of the blog crew among there. And while we’re at it, don’t forget the aforementioned London Print Studio and Karrie Fransman are looking for five people aged between 21 and 25 for comics internships (see here for details).

And there is further comic art exhibition goodness to enjoy in the London area – we’re waiting on the winner to be announced for this year’s Comica/Observer/Jonathan Cape graphic short story prize (the winning 4-page story will be in the Sunday 31st October issue of the Observer), but the good folks at Orbital are already putting together a free exhibition of some of the best entrant’s work, which will be on display throughout November.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF_R5UJGt-g