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Mass Effect: Foundation #6 by Mac Walters (Writer) and Matthew Clark (Artist) (comicbook review).

‘Mass Effect: Foundation’ is a series of thirteen comics that explore the back stories of the companions encountered by Commander Shepard, the hero of the video game series ‘Mass Effect’.

In the previous issue, Miranda and Jacob set out to collect intel regarding the whereabouts of Commander Shepard’s body. Issue 6 picks up that story. Miranda is captured and Jacob is wounded. The plucky street kid from the last issue comes to the rescue, providing Jacob with a place to rest up, information on the whereabouts of his partner and the weapons to pull off a rescue. Her assistance costs a little more than cash. The Batarian thugs are holding her aunt as well.

Mass Effect: Foundation #6
Mass Effect: Foundation #6

Jacob gets to play the hero in this issue. Miranda, the damsel in distress. She doesn’t do distress well. In this particular instance, however, there are too many names to take, so she has to sit back and wait for rescue.

The story is all action and reasonably satisfying for it, especially as it’s a matter of all’s well that ends well. If you’ve played the ‘Mass Effect’ games, that is not a spoiler. I did get the sense Mac Walters wanted to give Jacob a chance to shine. Might be too little, too late, though. The game is done and no amount of back story and previous heroics is going to make him more interesting. Then again, with the more details of his recruitment to Cerberus, he might flesh out a bit more in game.

Miranda Lawson and her captors. Image courtesy of Dark Horse Comics
Miranda Lawson and her captors. Image courtesy of Dark Horse Comics

What really lets this comic down is the art. It’s not bad art. The proportions are great, anatomy is spot on. The Batarians are really well-drawn, the panels convey action well enough. What’s missing is emotion. The faces are a bit simplified at times. The most disappointing aspect, however, is that Jacob still just doesn’t look like Jacob and Miranda doesn’t look like Miranda.

Mass Effect’ has an almost, no, a verifiably rabid fan base. There is a tonne of fan art out there. Comics, too. A good number of them have better depictions of all the companions. Still, as a dedicated fan of the non-rabid variety, I will continue to read these comics. Jack’s ‘Foundation’ story is coming up and that is one I do not want to miss.

Kelly Jensen

January 2014

(pub: Dark Horse Comics. 32 page comicbook/download. Price: $ 3.99 (US))

check out website: http://www.darkhorse.com/Comics/20-467/Mass-Effect-Foundation-6

Kelly Jensen

Writer of love stories. Bibliophile. Gamer. Cat herder.

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