Embrace Eternity

After the destruction of the Citadel (ending of Mass Effect: 1 video game), Commander Shepard's ship (the Normandy) is attacked and his body is taken. It's been a month or so since that attack and Dr. Liara T'Soni has found a contact with information on Shepard's body. Liara was a teammate and possible romantic interest from video game based on in-game RP decisions.

For the Mass Effect fans, like me, the issue starts off with a little recap of what's happened since the end of the video game and provides a familiar face (Liara). The lovable Elcor <sarcastic> are back with their strange way of speaking their inflections and emotions, which is explained to the new fans after the Elcor is finished talking by a new character of a new race that wasn't seen in ME1. Feron, a Drell, is introduced as someone with information on Shepard's body. In ME2, one of your teammates (Thane) will be a Drell biotic, so it's nice to get introduced to someone from that race before the game arrives.

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

As Liara and Feron walk through the Omega Station in the Terminus System (the darker version of the Citadel in non-Citadel space), they are attacked by some thugs working for the Shadowbroker. As in ME1, the Shadowbroker deals with information and other illegal activities. After they are captured, Cerberus agents begins attacking the thugs and free them - only to be taken by the Cerberus agents to see the Illusive Man. The Illusive Man also wants Shepard's body - or to at least keep a new enemy, the Collectors, from acquiring the body from the Shadowbroker. He makes a deal with Liara to help her find Shepard's body and prevent the Collectors from getting it.

The book brings back the Cerberus group, Illusive Man, Shadow Broker, and the Collectors - each from either the video game or the Mass Effect novels. There's also the usual bunch of Turians and Krogan along with Batarians (introduced in ME:1 add-on).

Omar Francia and Michael Atiyeh used the "feel" of Mass Effect through out the book. As in the game, there's lots of blues and reds and round objects. Mac Walters, the lead Bioware writer for ME:2, writes a good story and I end the book wishing there was more to read.

I've read both Mass Effect novels and finished the video game a few times completing nearly every quest, so I'm quite familiar with the sci-fi setting. For a new fan, some things are left unexplained such as what powers a biotic has and what role Liara had in Shepard's life. The races are not introduced and there is little explanation (other than the inside cover) to the relationship between humanity (the humans) and other races. If you're a new fan and haven't read the novels or played the first video game, then I recommend you pick up both novels and read them! :)

The video game will be released on Jan 26, 2010 and all pre-orders will also contain a copy of this issue.

Name

Part 1

Volume

Mass Effect: Redemption

Issue Number

Cover Date

January 2010

In Store Date

January 06, 2010

Some Good Fan-Service, but What About Everyone Else? 0

Mass Effect: Redemption #1 - Part 1 by roter_sand on January 02, 2011

Oh Mass Effect, what a delightfully wonderful game you are! So good, in fact, that Dark Horse decided to publish a series featuring your lead writer, which is great. Is this series just an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the game, however, or does it stand on its own as a good comic? Let's take a closer look at the good the bad and the ugly of the first issue of the Mass Effect: Redemption series. What was good? Well, Mac Walters is certainly an excellent writer, which is evident ...

3 out of 3 found this review helpful.

In Space, No One Can Hear You Complain About Nothing Happening 0

Mass Effect: Redemption #1 - Part 1 by cm_cameron on January 09, 2011

Even when you take away the "for a video game" preface, the Mass Effect games are an example of excellent writing. A trait that more-or-less was present in the novels as well. Now, whether it's present in the comic, I can't say. There really isn't enough here for me to accurately judge the quality. It's a setup issue.All we really learn in this issue is that, Liara T'Soni is looking for Commander Shepard (or what's left of him) and that she isn't the only one. That's about it. It takes an entire...

0 out of 0 found this review helpful.

Mass Effect: Redemption #1

jamesewelch's Mass Effect: Redemption #1 - Part 1 review