The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Dark Horse Books via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day
Author:  David A. Goodman
Illustrators:  David Cabeza & Michael Atiyeh
Upcoming Release Date: April 6, 2021

Orville 1.5: New Beginnings REVIEW


Synopsis: Board the starship Orville and adventure through space on these new missions set between seasons two and three of Seth MacFarlane's hit sci-fi TV show!

Executive Producer David A. Goodman writes a double feature that has Captain Ed Mercer and crew investigating an enigmatic alien device and contemplating the consequences of intervention when a primitive civilization faces an off-world threat.

In Launch Day, when seemingly hostile Krill ships cross into Union space, the Orville intercepts. Ed learns they are en route to a planet that left the Planetary Union decades ago under mysterious circumstances. Scans have discovered a moon-sized construct above the planet, and the Krill intend a preemptive strike against the presumed weapon. But is it?

In Heroes, Lieutenant Talla Keyali returns to a planet she surveyed as an Ensign when a quantum signature on the surface suggests significant technological advances since her last visit. Instead, she discovers a spacefaring species has subjugated the locals, transforming their once idyllic society into a grim mining operation. Stymied by the Union's hesitance to provoke hostilities, Talla must consider how far she's willing to go to help these people and the repercussions of doing so.

Collects The Orville #1: Launch Day Part 1 of 2, The Orville #2: Launch Day Part 2 of 2, The Orville #3: Heroes Part 1 of 2, The Orville #4: Heroes Part 2 of 2.

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Review: I really enjoyed the graphic novel taking place between the first two seasons and this book delivers the same thing except between season two and the upcoming season. This book collects two different stories that each feel like an episode of the series on their own.

The first story is Launch Day. There's good pacing, funny dialogue, and modern themes showcased in an interesting way. A lot of fun. The society in this story takes isolationism to a whole new level.

The second story is Heroes. It features a world being taken advantage of. A folk hero inspires change with the help of some of the Orville crew. There are some fun vigilante and superhero themes.

I give this book a 4.5/5. Both stories feel just like fully fledged episodes. This book really gets me excited for the next season of this show.


--PAUL