Written by Roger McKenzie
Art by Rick Buckler & Klaus Janson; Jim Novak; and Carl Gifford
Cover Art by Rich Buckler & Klaus Janson
SUMMARY:
Published by Marvel Comics for August 1979, this issue is entitled “The Memory Machine,” as it is set a few hours after the tragic ending of the 1978 TV episode: “Planet of the Gods – Part 2.” At the funeral of Captain Apollo’s beloved Serina, her family (Apollo, Boxey, Athena, & Adama) mourns while a disgusted Starbuck blames himself. Meanwhile, the Cylons find a dying Baltar on Kobol.
While a seductive Madea tries baiting Starbuck into joining a secret ‘movement,’ Adama must somehow abate Sire Uri’s demands that the slowest straggling ships be left behind. One possibility is the interrogation device known as ‘The Memory Machine, ’ if proof of Earth’s coordinates still exists.
REVIEW:
Admirably, this intriguing storyline could have made a great episode for the TV series. The comic’s weakness, however, is its inconsistent and generally average artwork. Marvel’s take on Apollo, Boxey, and Athena, for instance, offer adequate depictions of actors Richard Hatch, Noah Hathaway, and Maren Jensen. The Cylons and the space scenes are even surprisingly well-played. Conversely, the ultra-generic images of Starbuck and Uri, for instance, ensure that it’s virtually impossible to identify them as actors Dirk Benedict and Ray Milland. As the lackluster cover art implies, Battlestar Galactica # 6 is standard Marvel content for the era.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a single-page ‘Bullpen Bulletins.’ Among the ads is a hilarious, black-and-white full-page hawking real, glow-in-the-dark ‘Kryptonite rocks’ for $2.50 a rock, plus shipping & handling. Superman appears, as if giving this dubious product his smiling endorsement.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars
