Tag Archives: the orville

The Orville Library Edition Volume 1 Collects Six Missions

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From Executive Producer David A. Goodman, and Dark Horse Comics comes The Orville Library Edition Volume 1. Penciled and inked by David Cabeza and colored by Michael Atiyeh, this edition chronicles six missions from The Orville comics. These stories take place between the first and third seasons and take the Orville starship into the unknown, and sometimes, directly into the line of fire!

In “New Beginnings”, investigation of a century-old distress signal results in Ed and Gordon marooned on a war-ravaged desert planet in the custody of an unknown species. Then, in “The Word of Avis”, seemingly hapless xenoanthropologists lead the Orville into a fight for survival within Krill-controlled territory.

In “Launch Day”, the question of whether a suspicious space construct is a weapon tests the Planetary Union’s peaceful convictions. While in “Heroes”, Talla considers taking matters into her own hands upon discovering an idyllic planet she once surveyed has been subjugated by a hostile alien force.

In “Digressions”, Kelly must unwind an alternate timeline where her refusal to go on a second date with Ed has doomed the galaxy to destruction. And in “Artifacts”, the obsessive pursuit of a lost civilization’s legendary fleet by Ed’s old astro-archeology teacher puts the Orville in grave danger.

The Orville Library Edition Volume 1 is presented in an oversized, hardcover edition, contains 280 pages, and will be available at comic stores October 5, 2022 and in bookstores October 18, 2022. It is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore. The Orville Library Edition Volume 1 will retail for $49.99.

The Orville Library Edition Volume 1

Around the Tubes

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It’s a new week and we have a lot coming at you! There’ll be reviews, previews, interviews, and more coming throughout the week. Kicking it off is a lot of reviews you might have missed over the weekend from around the web.

Comic Attack – The Good Asian #1-3
Laughing Place – Heroes Reborn #1
CBR – Metropolis Grove
Comic Attack – Orphan and the Five Beasts #2
Talking Comics – The Orville #1
Collected Editions – Wonder Woman #750: The Deluxe Edition

Heroes Reborn #1

The Orville Sets Off for Adventure in a Comic Set Right Before the Season 2 Finale

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The Orville Executive Producer David A. Goodman, artist David Cabeza, and colorist Michael Atiyeh are back at work bringing the world of The Orville to comics with Digressions. 

This two-issue “episode” invites you to travel “The Road Not Taken” in this prequel to the season two finale! Follow Ed, Kelly, and the would-have-been crew of the Orville, as they navigate separate lives in an alternate timeline that’s on a collision course with the galaxy-ending Kaylon!

The Orville #1: Digressions Part 1 of 2 goes on sale May 5, 2021.

The Orville #1: Digressions Part 1 of 2

Early Review: The Orville #3 – Heroes Part 1

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The Orville #3

Light Spoilers to Follow…

Dark Horse transport readers back into space with another two-part adventure featuring the voyages of the starship Orville. In The Orville #3 – Heroes Part 1 the inhabitants of a planet known only as HR 5070 have developed advanced technologies that should be far beyond their grasp. The Okudum should not possess the means to create a quantum reactor, yet after scans clearly show the presence of such a device, the crew of the Orville is sent to investigate.
Each of these Orville stories gives fans background information of certain members of the Orville’s crew. In Heroes, it’s Ensign Talla who’s history is expanded on. She’s an expert on the Okudum and the alien race holds a special place in her heart.

In my opinion, these Orville comics aren’t writer David A. Goodman’s best work. This is the second one I’ve read, and for the second time, I’ve gotten the sense he’s just missing the point of the show. I don’t feel that these Orville comics are a good adaptation of the FOX television show. Created by Seth Macfarlane, the TV show is meant to be part parody and part homage. The episodes are humorous while still maintaining the feel of a classic Star Trek story. I find these Orville comics to not only lack humor, but feel that they’re desperately in need of a joke or two. A lighter tone or more action would certainly improve things.

Without the humor or light-heartedness, these comics feel less like a homage and more like a low-quality rip off of both Star Trek and the Orville show. Goodman just doesn’t do enough to capture the voices of the actors when he writes their comic book counterparts’ dialogue. The dialogue of the characters in the comic reads very generically. The dialogue sounds like it could be spoken by anyone, instead of famous actors. Goodman’s scripts also lack the sophistication and emotional tension of a Star Trek episode. In The Orville #3, the character’s in this comic just sit around and talk. There’s no urgency, seemingly no real threat, and the character interactions seem more like co-workers who are forced to work together and not crewmates who must rely on one another to accomplish the mission. It’s not like Goodman doesn’t have source material to pull from between the Orville show and untold episodes of Star Trek. Instead, he comes up with these bland “space procedurals” where the first part is all set up for the second part, except without any excitement or plot twists that make the reader want to buy part 2 and finish the story.

David Cabeza’s illustrations contain a great amount of detail. He’s just as good at drawing an alien landscape as he is at rendering expressive faces. The small details he includes help distinguish different characters and species of alien from one another and give each one their own unique look. Colorist Michael Atiyeh adds depth to these details through shading and shadow. This adds an element of realism to the expressions and physical forms of the characters. I was also impressed by the accuracy of Cabeza’s drawings of the actors who play the Orville characters on the TV show. Seth MacFarlane’s character is especially well done.

Fans of classic Star Trek or the Orville TV show might find something to like about The Orville #3, but there’s not much in this comic to hook most readers. The story is boring, the plot predictable, and the dialogue flat. The artwork is of good quality but doesn’t offer many impressive visuals. Ninety percent of this comic is just people standing or sitting around talking. Goodman has a plethora of sources to pull inspiration from, yet he gives the reader a drama with no real tension. Hopefully one day, Seth Macfarlane can be convinced to consult and punch up the dialogue or story. Otherwise, I find little that would make someone want to buy any of these The Orville inspired comic books.

Story: David A. Goodman Art: David Cabeza
Colors: Michael Atiyeh Lettering: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt
Story: 1.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 3.5 Recommendation: Pass

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle

SDCC 2020: Hero Collector announces brand new ships from The Orville

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Hero Collector have announced that their line of collectible starships from The Orville are now available to pre-order!

These die-cast miniatures perfectly capture the ships of the show in exacting detail, each accompanied by a magazine filled with concept art, interviews, and behind-the-scenes details for Seth MacFarlane’s live-action, science fiction TV hit.

First announced during The Orville panel at last year’s San-Diego Comic Con, these high-quality collectible starships measure approximately 5 inches in length, with a special XL version of the USS Orville that comes in at over 10 inches.

  • USS Orville (ECV-197), the eponymous vessel of The Orville! This Exploratory-class vessel was designed for long voyages into uncharted space, carrying nearly 300 crew members and their families.
  • Union Shuttle (ECV-197-1), the sleek shuttlecraft used by the USS Orville’s crew to ferry themselves to other ships and the surfaces of alien planets.

Of course, The Orville is packed with numerous spacefarers from outside of the Planetary Union – from the militarized Moclans to the synthetic Kaylon or fanatical Krill – and after the overwhelming response to this first wave, Hero Collector can confirm that more ships will be joining The Orville Starship Collection in 2021!

The Orville’s Season 2.5 Comes to Dark Horse Comics

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The Orville Executive Producer David A. Goodman, artist David Cabeza, and colorist Michael Atiyeh are teaming up once again to bring the world of The Orville back to the printed page in The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day.

In the same fashion as Season 1.5, these new stories will consist of two, two-issue “episodes” telling stories set between the second and third seasons of Seth McFarlane’s hit television show. The first of these “episodes” starts with  The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day #1 (of two).

When seemingly hostile Krill ships cross into Union space, the Orville intercepts. Captain Mercer learns they are en route to a planet that left the 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? 

The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day #1 (of two) goes on sale June 3, 2020.

The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day #1

SDCC 2019: The Orville Experience is Open to All! No Badges Required!

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The Orville

Seth MacFarlane is bringing The Orville directly to fans with The Orville Experience at San Diego Comic-Con.

Fans of the show will be immersed in the world of The Orville with an enormous display of costumes, creatures, props, and art pulled directly from the set.

Highlights include concept art, the practical model of The Orville used for filming in the series, the full crew wardrobe, as well as costumes from favorite characters and guest stars including Pria (Charlize Theron), Darulio (Rob Lowe). Also included is Bortus’ mustache, and an array of creatures including the massive alien engineer Unk.

Fans should be on the lookout for drop-ins from The Orville cast, executive producers, and members of the show’s creative team.

Select giveaways will be distributed throughout the weekend.

The Orville Experience is open to all – no badges required!  

Location: The Carnation Building at 390 11th Avenue @ J Street, San Diego, CA 92101 (fan entrance is 1051 J Street @ 11th Avenue)
Hours: Thursday – 6pm-8pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-8pm 

ECCC 2019: Explore more of The Orville in Comics

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The Orville Executive Producer/writer David A. Goodman, artist David Cabeza, and colorist Michael Atiyeh are teaming up to bring all the adventures from the crew of The Orville onto the printed page in The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings. These all new adventures will consist of two, two-issue “episodes” bridging the gap between the events of the first season of Seth MacFarlane’s hit television series, and the second season now airing on FOX.

The first of these “episodes” starts with The Orville #1: New Beginnings Part 1 (of two). On their way to a fleet conference, Ed and Gordon investigate a distress signal from a century-old buoy belonging to a Union ship. Back on the Orville, Kelly tries to mediate when Bortus insists on enrolling Topa into school despite him being only a few months old.

The second “episode” begins with The Orville #3: The Word of Avis Part 1 (of two) which sees the Orville intercept a small Union ship en route to the interstellar territory of the easily aggravated Krill. The passengers, originally thought to be a group of xenoanthropologists, turn out to be much, much more interesting and dangerous than the crew of the Orville could’ve imagined.

The Orville #1: New Beginnings Part 1 (of two) goes on sale July 17, 2019.

The Orville #1: New Beginnings Part 1