Written by Rob Liefeld & Robert Napton
Art by Hector Gomez; Quantum FX; & Kurt Hathaway
Cover Art by (Uncredited)
SUMMARY:
Published by Maximum Press for August 1996, this four-part mini-series is next in line after these prior mini-series: The War of Eden; The Enemy Within; and Apollo’s Journey. Evidently living up to the story’s title, it would be the last Battlestar Galactica adaptation by Maximum.
Several years since the 1978-79 ABC TV series have lapsed. The makeshift colonial fleet has at last found Earth, as Adam and Eve are their new allies. In the past year, Adama has died and Starbuck is presumed dead. With an imminent Cylon invasion enhanced by Count Iblis, the mystical Seraphs urge Commander Apollo to commence an evacuation of Earth. Leading the Cylon onslaught is Baltar, who has a fleet of at least one hundred base ships at his command. Despite Commander Cain’s protests, the Galactica coordinates Earth’s evacuation. Reflecting Galactica 1980, Starbuck’s fate is glimpsed. Baltar’s attack decimates what’s left of the Galactica’s fleet. With humanity now facing extinction, Apollo makes a fateful decision.
REVIEW:
Rob Liefeld and Karl Alstaetter are credited for ‘updating’ character and ship designs because Maximum Press’ licensing deal evidently didn’t include the actor likenesses. That’s why it’s jarring how these rebooted characters don’t even vaguely resemble their TV counterparts. The unsurprising outcome is this Galactica’s human cast appear awfully generic (i.e. their body shapes are essentially the same; minimal facial expressions; etc.), as only the briefly-seen Cylons retain their distinctive look. Even the ethereal Seraphs are utterly unrecognizable in this incarnation, as they mimic the Kryptonians briefly seen in Christopher Reeve’s first Superman movie. As for this story’s portrayal of ‘Adam & Eve,’ the less said the better.
Despite a good faith effort at storyline continuity, Journey’s End’s ambitious plot is really too contrived for its own good. More so, Maximum’s adaptation clearly fall short of better efforts by other companies, i.e. Dynamite Entertainment.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
A summary-to-date of Maximum Press’ Battlestar Galactica is included. There is a single-page letters-and-answers column.
BRIAN’S 10-STAR RATING: 4 Stars
