Exodus!
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| Exodus! An issue of the Marvel Comics series. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Issue No. | 2 | |
| Writer(s) | Roger McKenzie | |
| Illustrator(s) | {{{illustrator}}} | |
| Penciller(s) | Ernie Colon | |
| Inker(s) | Ernie Colon | |
| Colorist(s) | Bob Sharen | |
| Letterer(s) | Ernie Colon | |
| Editor(s) | Mark Gruenwald and Jim Shooter | |
| Collection Design | {{{designer}}} | |
| Cover Artist(s) | ||
| Adaptation of | Saga of a Star World (Part 2) | |
| Published | March 1979 | |
| Collects | ||
| Collected in | Saga of a Star World | |
| Reprints | Marvel Super Special #8: Battlestar Galactica (Part 2) | |
| Reprinted as | ||
| Pages | {{{pages}}} | |
| ISBN | [[Special:Booksources/|]] | |
| Population | 0 Survivors | |
| Special | {{{special}}} | |
| Chronology | ||
| Previous | Next | |
| Annihilation! | Exodus! | Deathtrap! |
| Purchase | ||
| Available at BOOKSAMILLION.COM - Purchase | ||
| Available at Amazon.com – [[amazon:{{{amazon}}}|Purchase]] | ||
| Available at Amazon.co.uk – Purchase | ||
| Available at Things From Another World - Purchase | ||
- For the Re-imagined Series episode of the same name, see: Exodus, Part I.
This comic is the second of three issues adapting the Original Series' "Saga of a Star World."
Plot
- Baltar oversees the destruction of the Colonies, mulling over the fact that he had followed through on his promise of ending the Thousand-Yahren War: just in the way they did not foresee.
- A Cylon Raider lands nearby, reporting their success to Baltar, in addition to the fact that captured humans are offering information on a handful of survivors that successfully escaped the Colonies. The Centurions inform Baltar that the further, specific information is offered only in exchange for being spared. Baltar eschews this, reminding the Cylons of the Imperious Leader's standing order on humans: extermination.
- Boomer and Starbuck are assigned to take a census of the survivors, noting that the worst duty given to Warriors is some "poor guys from beta section" searching for solium leaks on an old sky-bus.
- Captain Apollo announces his presence, noting that he is listening for solium leaks; Starbuck and Boomer attempt to make a graceful exit, but Apollo reminds them of their duties, and notes that every ship is important—as they left many people behind for lack of ships—and threatens to "volunteer" them for permanent assignment on the sky-bus.
- Entering another compartment, they discover starved survivors begging for food. Starbuck and Boomer ward off Apollo's would-be mob as he attempts to calm them down, reassuring them that supplies are on their way. During this, an elderly Gemonesse woman approaches, speaking in her native tongue that the Warriors cannot understand. A woman with a broken left arm, Cassiopeia, translates: the elderly woman's husband is feverish.
- Cassiopeia eschews any further assistance from the Warriors, until it becomes apparent that her life is threatened by other Gemonesse women of the Otori Sect, given Cassiopeia's status as a socialator. Apollo orders Starbuck to take both Cassiopeia and the feverish elderly man to the shuttle.
- Another man approaches Apollo, chastising him for starving them while bureaucrats luxuriate in the Fleet, such as Sire Uri aboard Rising Star. Apollo vainly assures the hostile man that no one is in luxury, and assures him that relief is on the way. These assurances fall upon disbelieving and cynical ears.
- Aboard Alpha Shuttle, Apollo reaches out to core command to request clarification on food dispersal, but is stonewalled.
- In the rear of the shuttle, Cassiopeia answers Starbuck's request for a translator for the elderly man and his wife. Cassiopeia gives her name and profession, leading to a conversation as to why Cassiopeia had been the recipient of such hostilities. This segues into flirting, with Starbuck noting that he has headaches and needs "some kind of release," to which Cassiopeia offers up the possibility of an appointment for her services.
- Apollo routes the shuttle to Rising Star, where Apollo and Boomer disembark to investigate the claims, while the shuttle and its occupants continues to Galactica's Life Station.
- Apollo encounters Lieutenant Jolly, who informs his fellow Warriors that the food supplies have been contaminated with pluton poisoning, and that Rising Star's is the third ship he has checked since last night for the contamination.
- Apollo orders that the contaminated food be jettisoned, and the problem be kept confidential in order to maintain order. Boomer and Apollo go to talk to Uri, who is bound to be in the elite class. Serina arrives, asking for Apollo's help with Boxey, while also noting that they'll not like what they'll find in Uri's den.
- Serina notes that she was personally invited by Uri to attend, and was able to sneak out food that fed half the lower class compartment, as she did not wish to stay for she didn't like the "implications." Serina notes that Boxey has been depressed and has not eaten for two days, grieving for Muffey the daggit. Apollo pretends to be recruiting for future Warriors, engaging Boxey in conversation and noting that he's been looking all over for him.
- Apollo gives Boxey his pins when promoting the boy to "Colonial Warrior first level," noting that the promotion will entitle him to the first available daggit that comes along, provided that he rest and eat all of his primaries.
- Serina is thankful for the help, noting that Apollo and Zac must have been close. Apollo notes that they had been, and Serina becomes apologetic. Apollo assures her that, after losing "the big one," a Warrior is left to only win the little battles.
- Apollo leave Serina behind, making his way up to the elite level, where Boomer and a private security officer from Trans-Galactic Star Lines have a stand-off. It is broken when Boomer pulls out his pistol, and obtains entry after Apollo arrives.
- They see a banquet table and various persons, including the corpulent Uri, feasting on food aplenty. Uri is incensed at the interruption, particularly when Apollo declares his intent on arresting Uri. As Uri espouses threats, Apollo orders Boomer to notify core command on the acquisition of food, intending on distributing them as far as they can go.
- After Apollo shames Uri for his feelings, particularly when asked about the fate of Siress Uri, Boomer and Apollo leave. Boomer asks Apollo if they've overstepped their hand, but Apollo resolutely asks how one overplays starvation.
- Aboard a basestar, Baltar is dragged before the Imperious Leader. Baltar demands to know why the Leader hasn't honored their bargain, to which the Imperious Leader denounces it, noting that Baltar has missed the entire point of the war: the extermination of all humanity. The Leader has the groveling Baltar dragged away for public execution.
- Later, aboard Galactica, Uri pleads his case before the newly reformed Quorum of Twelve, gaslighting the Quorum into believing that he willingly shared his food after learning of the shortage. He lays blame for the secrecy surrounding the shortage at Adama's feet, and then asks why they do not go to Borallus, noting that the journey to Carillon is nine centons at best.
- Adama advocates for Carillon, believing that the Cylons lay in wait at Borallus, even though the world has everything they need: food, fuel, and water.
- Apollo presents his own plan to the Quorum, going through the Nova of Madagon and would save "two centons" in reaching Carillon. Adama objects as the sector has been heavily mined, and Apollo notes that a small group of Vipers can destroy the minefield with laser torpedoes, recruiting Boomer and Starbuck to join him.
- Several hours later, Apollo brings Serina and Boxey to Wilker's lab aboard Rising Star. The recalcitrant Boxey wants to go back to their berth, but Apollo tells the kid that it's a military order and that they need to hear the doctor out.
- Wilker goes into the problem of needing a replacement for daggits, who once performed many functions for Warriors, including standing watch as Warriors slept. He then presents the solution: Muffey II. The robotic simulacrum, programmed to respond to Boxey, licks Boxey and then Boxey goes off to frolic with it.
- Serina is happy to see her son regaining his spirit, and begins to make her feelings known to Apollo.
- The Fleet approaches the Nova of Madagon: Tigh and Adama wear sun-goggles, noting that the three Warriors can only navigate by scanners, as their cockpits would be sealed shut to prevent blindness.
- Athena asks Adama why they didn't go with Uri's plan, to which he replies that he would need to plead with the Cylons that were surely waiting at Borallus. Athena remains unconvinced about the merits of Apollo's and Adama's plan.
- Despite Starbuck's protests regarding his bio-pulse line and Boomer's anger for being recruited for the mission because of Starbuck's mouth, the three Warriors launch into space towards Madagon—hurling towards the Cylon minefield as their scanners burn out, leaving them effectively blind.
Notes
General
- Sire Uri's first appearance depicts him flanked by two women, one of whom has Princess Leia's "side buns" hair style.
- The comic eschews the terms for time, using "hours" instead of "centars" in certain instances, mirroring the inconsistencies in application of "Earth" terms vs. "Colonial" terms for time and other units of measurement.
- Example: "And, several hours later, aboard the Rising Star..." - A caption on the page detailing Apollo and Serina's visit to Dr. Wilker's lab, where Muffey II awaits.
- The term "centon" is also used inconsistently, in some instances it can mean either a unit of time — minutes, hours, or even days — or some unit of distance:
- "Yeah? Well another two centons [minutes] and you would've been a doormat, Captain." - Starbuck to Apollo after Apollo is bum-rushed by survivors aboard Gemini.
- "Meanwhile, some centons [hours? sectors?] away..." - A caption on the page featuring the Imperious Leader's decree to execute Baltar.
- "It is, at best, a nine centon [day] journey. We will never make it." - Sire Uri objects to heading to Carillon over Borallus for desperately needed supplies.
Differences
- This issue hews closely to the finalized televised pilot, including Baltar's stay-of-execution (changed from the theatrical release, which depicts Baltar's execution before the Imperious Leader).
- The only omission is Cassiopeia and Starbuck's sexual rendezvous in the launch bay and Athena's retaliatory "steam purge."
- Dr. Wilker refers to Muffey II as a "droid," a term eschewed due to its being closely tied to Star Wars. In the series proper, the term "drone" is used when describing the mechanoid.
Publication History
This issue was reprinted in Star Heroes: Winter Special (UK) Vol. 1 #1 (October 1979 CE), and later republished in Saga of a Star World (June 2005 CE).
Analysis
As the comic adaptation hues closely to the finalized pilot, "Saga of a Star World," many of the points of analysis are mirrored in the aforementioned article.
Questions
Answered Questions
- What will the rag-tag fugitive fleet discover at Carillon? (Answer)
- Was a Cylon task force laying in wait at Borallus? (Answer)
- Will Baltar be executed? (Answer)
Unanswered Questions
- Was Siress Uri's fate orchestrated on Sire Uri's part?
- How would it have been possible to vote for replacement council members on the Quorum of Twelve in a span of two days?