Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 1

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Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol 3 #1 (a.k.a. "In the Beginning") An issue of the Dynamite series.
Issue No.	1
Writer(s)	Cullen Bunn
Illustrator(s)	{{{illustrator}}}
Penciller(s)	Alex Sanchez
Inker(s)	{{{inker}}}
Colorist(s)	Daniela Miwa
Letterer(s)	Sal Cipriano
Editor(s)	Matt Idelson
Collection Design	{{{designer}}}
Cover Artist(s)	Alex Sanchez (Cover A) Butch Guice (Cover B) Juan Doe (Cover C) Michael Adams (Cover D)
Adaptation of
Published	August 3, 2016
Collects
Collected in	Battlestar Galactica: Folly of the Gods
Reprints
Reprinted as
Pages	{{{pages}}}
ISBN	725130250643
Population	0 Survivors
Special	{{{special}}}
Chronology
Previous		Next
Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 #12	Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol 3 #1 (a.k.a. "In the Beginning")	Classic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #2
Purchase
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The Galactica's search for sanctuary takes them beyond the limits of known reality and into a cosmic mystery where the hunters become the hunted, ruin and despair dot the skies, and Adama goes where friend and family can't follow. Cullen Bunn (Sinestro Corps, The Sixth Gun, Deadpool & The Mercs for Money) and Alex Sanchez (Mad Max: Ride, 30 Days Of Night: Spreading the Disease, Katana) invite you on a journey unlike any in the annals of Battlestar Galactica!

Plot

• A black hole materializes out of nowhere, trapping Galactica and its The Fleet. Unable to escape, Adama orders the Fleet to fly directly into the singularity.
• In transit, a tanker explodes, knocking Adama unconscious and causing damage to Galactica's control center.
• Colonel Tigh communicates to the Fleet following its transit through the black hole, reassuring its members that despite the damages and casualties that they will get through their current predicament.
• Apollo visits the life center where Doctor Salik and Cassiopeia tend to Adama. Salik informs Apollo that Adama has suffered a severe concussion, which has been effectively treated; Salik remains puzzled as to why Adama remains comatose for over 20 centars, noting that Adama's brain activity is well into the conscious range.

Adama

• In a dream state, Adama finds himself in his quarters, and is summoned by a voice noting that his "presence is required."
• Adama then finds himself on the planet that Baltar was left upon, where "Baltar" explains that "we are, all of us, being summoned." As Adama justifies his decision to maroon Baltar in a humane manner despite Baltar's very betrayal of the human race, "Baltar" replies that he "still found hell" in Adama's compassionate act.
• Adama finds himself amongst Cylons in a basestar throne room, with "Baltar" berating him for bringing a "human evil" into their midst.
• Adama leaves and finds himself on Galactica's Core Command, reliving the opening attack at Cimtar and asks a befuddled Tigh if they can stop it from happening again.

Patrol

• Meanwhile, Apollo leads Starbuck, Boomer and Sheba on a reconnaissance of the new realm they have been deposited into. After consoling a worried Apollo about his father, Sheba detects a planet, thickly-ringed with debris of derelicts. Boomer compares the planet to another one in the Hovian sector, itself featuring a unique magnetic field attracting derelict vessels in the same way.
• The Viper patrol makes planet fall, and the Warriors encounter a large group of marooned survivors who desire to celebrate the blessings "to those who fell from the heavens and lived."
• Sheba discovers a large impact crater nearby; Starbuck elects to proceed down to its center, wanting to determine what kind of ship had made it. Apollo elects to ask their welcoming committee for information before climbing down a bottomless pit.

Lucifer's Pursuit

• At the exit to the singularity, Lucifer's lone basestar enters the realm, discovering intense interference and signs of destroyed Colonial vessels from the Fleet.
• Lucifer orders squadrons to scout ahead, with plans to achieve what the Cylon Empire has failed to do thus far: destroy the remaining humans.
• In this endeavor, they encounter an attacking force... that force is also Cylon.

Notes

Publication Releases

• A version of this issue, the Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 #1 Rare Butch Guice "Virgin Art" Edition, released 3 August 2016. Per the publisher:

  Industry legend Butch Guice provides his unique perspective on sci-fi television's greatest space fantasy with this super-rare variant edition, presented here without trade dressing for your enjoyment!

Timeline

• The events of this comic take place after the Battle at Galaxy's Edge depicted in "The Hand of God."

Nods

• The planet happened across by the Colonials is a nod to the red planet from "War of the Gods."
• This issue launches the "action figure" variant covers by Michael Adams that would be offered throughout this series, as well as Battlestar Galactica vs. Battlestar Galactica, which visually harken back to the 1978-79 C.E. Mattel action figure line.
• "In the beginning" is a reference to the creation myth depicted in the Book of Genesis.

Miscellany

• While Boxey and Muffit are seen, they do not participate in this tale.

Analysis

• The use of a "black hole" to transport The Fleet to another universe aligns with some theoretical concepts relating to either charged Reissner-Nordström or rotating Kerr black holes.
• The use of a singularity to transport the Fleet elsewhere (also planned by Iblis) is a trope that appears again in the Battlestar Galactica vs. Battlestar Galactica series.
• Adama being tortured by visions of his past is a trope also visited previously in the Berkley novel, The Nightmare Machine, as well as prior to that in The Memory Machine—a story polot line that factors into a larger part of Marvel Comics' 1978-79 run.
• Lucifer's pursuit of power continues unabated, even more intensely without the influence of his human mentor, Baltar. This is in keeping with Lucifer's actions and motives in "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II."

Questions

• How does a "black hole" mysteriously appear right before Galactica without warning? (Answer)
• Is there an external force keeping Adama in a coma? (Answer)
• Is Adama able to influence the past at the Battle of Cimtar? (Answer)
• What ship crashed on the Iblis' planet that caused the huge impact crater?
• What are the motives of the denizens of said planet who come to welcome them?
• Where did the other Cylons come from, and why are they attacking Lucifer's forces? (Partial Answer)

Noteworthy Dialogue

• "Baltar": Say what you will about the Cylons, but they have no demons. No devils. Save for those who created them! In that way, they are not so different from you.

• After exiting the black hole, Lucifer receives word that a few smaller ships from The Fleet were destroyed:

Lucifer: That ship—and the humans it houses—is far too annoying to be destroyed so easily. And so... here we are... pursuing our enemy through a black hole... into the heart of unknown space. But the Colonials will not hide for long. Dispatch scouts at once.

Centurion: By your command.

Lucifer: Here... in uncharted territory... I will do what the Cylon Empire has failed to do thus far. I—above all—will be a Cylon like no other.

Related Imagery

Covers

• 
  Cover A Main colorized cover.
  Art: Alex Sanchez
  Colors: Daniele Miwa
• 
  Cover B Alternate cover.
  Art: Butch Guice
  Colors: Alex Guimarães
• 
  Cover C Alternate cover.
  Art: Juan Doe
• 
  Cover D Adama Action Figure Cover
  Art: Michael Adams

Other Incentives

• 
  Cover E Black-and-white cover.
  Art: Alex Sanchez
• 
  Cover F Black-and-white cover.
  Art: Butch Guice
• 
  Cover G Boxey and Muffit virgin cover.
  Art: Juan Doe
• 
  Cover H Rare Adama and crowd virgin cover.
  Art: Butch Guice
  Colors: Alex Guimarães

Earlier Unused Iterations

The following are unused concept covers that differ from the final released product.

• 
  Cover D Adama Action Figure Cover
  Art: Michael Adams
• 
  Cover D Adama Action Figure Cover
  Art: Michael Adams

Preview Pages

Please Note: These are used for promotional purposes by the publisher, and are provided here in the same vein.

• 
  Page 1
• 
  Page 2
• 
  Page 3
• 
  Page 4
• 
  Page 5
• 
  Page 19 - Virgin
• 
  Page 21 - Virgin
• 
  Page 24 - Virgin

External links

• Dynamite.com: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA VOL. 3 #1 RARE BUTCH GUICE "VIRGIN ART" EDITION (web.archive.org backup link)

Original Series definition: region of space or planet, see also Quadrant. Usually named after a Greek letter (space sectors), or a geographic formation on the surface of a planet (geographic sector, e.g. Sector Hekla on the planet Arcta")