ComicBitsOnline.com

Orbital 1:SCARS
Authors: Sylvain Runberg & Serge Pellé

Age: 12 years and up
Paperback
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: May 2009
ISBN: 9781905460892
£5.99
In the 23rd century, humans and Sandjarrs are allowed to join an intergalactic
multiracial organisation set up 8,000 years before. The humans are seen as a
belligerent, underdeveloped race by the other members of the organisation and
have been kept out of it until now. The Sandjarrs had stayed out of interplanetary
politics until a war between themselves and the humans broke out. Now Caleb, a
human, and Mezoke, a Sandjarr, are paired up and trained as special agents to keep
the intergalactic peace. This is a controversial and historic alliance, and a lot
of people are watching them. Their first mission is to keep war from breaking out
between humans and Javlodes on the planet Senestam.

Thanks to a mentally retarded postman the two latest books from Cinebook-The 9th
Art were bent and pushed through the letterbox so I’ve nicely creased and scratched
covers. Even an amoeba would have more sense.

That aside,I have to say that,to date,all the Cinebook releases have had clean,
slick art. Firstly,the cover put me in mind of Valerian but that was my error. It IS
a very impressive and detailed piece of art. But as always I wondered about interior
art.  Serge Pelle’s art is gritty,rather like the art on Thorgal might be described:lines,
shading,toning and excellent use of colour to set the atmosphere for scenes.

The political intrigue,twists in plot,not to mention character interaction are all
well written by Sylvain Runberg.

The end is the most annoying part. It’s a cliff-hanger and I yelled “What?!!”
rather loudly.  Erm,this really is good and I’m usually “so-so” with science fiction.
If you like sci fi comics and are into Alien or even Alien Legion this is one for
you but you’ll be holding your breath for volume 2!!

The Scorpion – The Devil in the Vatican

Enrico Marini[Artist] & Stephen Desberg [Writer]

Age: 15 years and up
PAPERBACK
Size: 18.4 x 25.7 cm
Number of pages: 96 colour pages
Publication: May 2009
ISBN: 9781905460908
£9.99

The Stone Cross: The Scorpion, whose mother Cardinal Trebaldi burnt at the stake
for loving a man of the cloth, discovers that his father was the murdered Pope
himself. When Trebaldi addresses a huge crowd at the end of the mourning period,
the Scorpion is there to tell the truth about how the people’s beloved Pope died.

The Devil in the Vatican: Trebaldi claims that the sacred cross of St Peter
miraculously appeared in his castle. The Scorpion must find the real cross if
he is to prove Trebaldi’s treachery.
This two-volume book includes “The Stone Cross”

I’ve raved about The Scorpion and now I’m reading it in English I’m raving more!
I began reading the first few pages which start in 1st Century Anatolia and the
Romans but then shifts to the Vatican in the 18th century and what happened then
left me stumped and dumbfounded –I’ll not say why because it was very well executed
by the team.

Both stories,The Stone Cross and The Devil In The Vatican,are wonderfully written but
that’s what you’d expect from Desberg.  Twists,scene shifting,action are all well
paced -why isn’t this a movie yet?  As for Marini’s artwork. I look at it and sigh. If
I had an ounce of his artistic talent I’d be happy.  Costumes -superb. The architecture
which makes me more envious -superb from furniture,gardens,churches,city scenes and
ships it just can’t be faulted.  And the action scenes are great -and the women are
beautiful,of course!

There are scenes of nudity extracted which annoys a minority,but I’ve dealt with this
elsewhere:it does NOT effect the story in any way AND,most important,it is with the
approval of the creators.  Creators we know a little bit more about thanks to the
brief back cover info.

It may be annoying to some that I have no negative comments on any of the Cinebook
releases.  The thing is I DO look for things to criticise but can’t find anything –
unless I can blame that postman wrecking both covers on Cinebook…?

I could go on but then I might go over the top so I’ll just say that these books,
Orbital and The Scorpion,are must buys.