I remember watching Lorne Green at the helm of the Battlestar Galactica battle the evil Cylon Empire when I was a kid. The original series was not on TV very long, but there were the movies and the short lived Galactica 1980. Starbuck, played by Dirk Benedict, and Apollo were always my favorite characters, so when I heard that Dynamite Entertainment was releasing a mini-series to explore the origins of Starbuck, I had to get it.
Battlestar Galactica: Starbuck #1 from Dynamite Entertainment focuses on the early years of everyone’s favorite orphan scoundrel. This story begins with then Lt. Adama in a heated battle with some Cylons, fighting hard to stay alive so he will get to see the birth of his son. His ship is hit and he has to make an emergency landing near the settlement of Umbra that is currently under siege. There he is ambushed by a lone Cylon and almost killed except f or the feral child that leaps from the a nearby tree, smashing the Cylon with a tree branch and saving Adama’s life.
Thus begins the life of one of the greatest Viper pilots the Colonial Service has ever seen. As an orphan, Adama made sure he was adopted to a good family and named Starbuck, a name he had been reserving for his unborn son. This shows the connection between Adama and Starbuck.
Jump ahead 15 yahrans and Starbuck shows up at the Adama household to ask for support in getting into the academy. Adama refuses because he feels Starbucks parents should do this. Starbuck doesn’t see it that way and storms of in a huff. The truth is that his family is part of the agro community and does not see the use in becoming a pilot. This is very reminiscent of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, wanting to go into the military but his family wanting him to help on the farm.
Apollo shows up and challenges Starbuck to a race up a mountain on their motorcycles. During the race, an accident happens and Starbuck has to save Apollo’s life. Afterward they become best friends and Apollo convinces Adama to recommend Starbuck for admission to the academy.
The final scene of this book focuses on how Starbuck became the rogue that we all know and love. This all has to do with Wyler, the pilot that Starbuck is to shadow on his first assignment in the academy. Wyler is all about gambling, women, and fumarellos, or cigars as we know them. He teaches Starbuck everything he knows and they forge a strong bond. I won’t spoil the ending, but this clearly shines a light on why Starbuck is slow to commit to any relationship.
Tony Lee does a great job of bringing us back to that time in the 70’s and 80’s when TV was amazing. The art team of Eman Casallos and Davi Correia really make this a great story. I look forward to the next installment and recommend this for those of you who have seen the old show or for those of you who just like an awesome story. Cool sci-fi stuff with a heart.
