Mass Effect: Foundation #2 – This is the best and only worthy issue of the ME1 third of the Foundation series. Like #1, 3, and 4, it doesn’t tell us anything too interestingly new, plot-wise. The difference is, the characterization is strong, or at least entertaining, while the other issues’ characterizations are bland. Its strength is in the characterization of Wrex, specifically. Also, his interaction with Jasox and his interaction with Brooks were either entertaining or ironic. (Side note: There’s something magical about conversations on elevators.)
Mass Effect: Foundation #3 – Do we need to see what occurred with Ashley and her squad directly before the Geth attack in ME1? Arguably, Mass Effect: Paragon Lost’s boring characters were less boring than Ash’s squad, here. Ash is a sex object – check. Ash is distrusted because of her grandfather – check. Ash is a good soldier and leader – check. Dull. Outright telling us what happened beyond the bits we could discern from ME1’s introduction and from conversations with Ash aboard the Normandy was a poor decision. Nobody asked for this issue, and it’s straight filler.
Mass Effect: Foundation #4 – Again, what did this issue contribute to the new? Did we need to see what Kaiden went through at “brain camp” that was more interesting than what we could imagine from our discussions with him aboard the Normandy in ME1? No. And just like Ash’s ME:F #3, this issue was needless and seemed like filler. But there was a decent albeit scant bit with Kaiden’s dad’s support and the short dialogue about decisions and consequences.
Putting it all together, ME: Foundation #1-4 served to insert Brooks/Rasa into the ME1 timeline and to give her viewpoint on some of those events, to give Cerberus/TIM/Kai Leng (Leng, hardly worth mentioning, here) a bigger presence in ME1, and to flesh out three separate backstories from ME1, focusing on three separate characters: Wrex, Ashley, and Kaiden. Overall, the series has been mediocre, C -level comic book storytelling so far, with one standout issue in #2 that is about a B+/A-.
Miscellaneous Notes:
-Noticeable absence of Quarians and Asari in this ME1-focused quartet. At least the Turians got Vyrnnus and a slaver mention, and the Batarians had a brief, but violent, encounter with Wrex.
-It was solid to see Brooks/Rasa express a sense of admiration, or even attraction, for Wrex, at the end of #2. This was perhaps further developed in her lingering look of Kaiden’s image at the end of #3. Could this be a reminder of Brooks as a flesh n’ blood woman who currently lacks a romance, as well as a hint toward a Brooks/Rasa romance with Shepard’s clone later in this series? A future issue cover (#8) shows her caressing Thane, but it’s unlikely that there’s a genuine romance there. Perhaps her seduction skills will be explored, although she’s merely treacherous. Time will tell if Mac is merely obvious or if he’s skilled enough to develop a genuine romance for Brooks/Rasa.
-By revealing Cerberus' hand in the events of ME1 much more clearly, does that hurt its sense of mystery when you piece together its sinister actions by playing all the sidequests in ME1?
- ME: Foundation #5-8 ostensibly jumps to the events of ME2. So far, the events of ME1 were meant for entertainment but did little to nothing for enlightenment. The result is hollow entertainment. I’m not sure ME2’s events will be much better, although some fans (particularly Miri fans) seem to enjoy #5 and look forward to #6.
-Will #9 finish with ME2, or jump to ME3? #7 focuses on Jack, #8 on Thane. #9-13 or #10-13 should focus on ME3, although apparently Mac drops out after #10. It will also be interesting to see if the subsequent writer for #11-13 will be an improvement, although Mac in absence apparently still defined the plot.
Modifié par Deadpool9, 01 décembre 2013 - 09:28 .
Retour en haut
