Galactica 1980 1

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Galactica 1980 #1 An issue of the Dynamite series.
Issue No.	1
Writer(s)	Marc Guggenheim
Illustrator(s)	{{{illustrator}}}
Penciller(s)	Cezar Razek
Inker(s)	Cezar Razek
Colorist(s)	Salvatore Aiala
Letterer(s)	Simon Bowland
Editor(s)
Collection Design	{{{designer}}}
Cover Artist(s)	Lucio Parrillo
Adaptation of
Published	September 2009
Collects
Collected in
Reprints
Reprinted as
Pages	{{{pages}}}
ISBN	[[Special:Booksources/|]]
Population	0 Survivors
Special	{{{special}}}
Chronology
Previous		Next
None	Galactica 1980 #1	Galactica 1980 2
Purchase
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Plot

• At Harvard University in November of 1971 C.E., a mustached, puffy haired man gives a lecture on his theory pertaining to extraterrestrial intervention of Earth's development, using the introduction to the original Battlestar Galactica series in this sparsely-attended lecture. A young heckler in jeans and a white t-shirt challenges the speaker's "lamebrain theory," which the speaker then vainly defends, noting the lack of knowledge about the "missing link" between ape and man.
• In 1977 C.E., NASA works on the Voyager program.
• In 1980 C.E., Troy "Boxey" Adama and Dillon are on patrol. Troy detects a contact on his scanner whilst drinking from a flask; Dillon notes that it is against regulations to drink while on duty. Troy begins his tirade on how regulations are as unnecessary as the patrol, as they have never seen Cylons in their lifetime. Troy also notes that drinking dulls the pain, and that Dillon should try it. This conversation ends when Dillon confirms the contact and encounters something that is not space junk.
• Adama notes that the Fleet's morale has deteriorated (women of child-bearing age undergo "'homegrown' sterilizations" to prevent future generations from suffering the fate of an endless journey) and doubts that it could deteriorate any further. He also notes that there are whispers of mutiny for those who want to support a leadership that will settle the first habitable planet they come across, instead of their apparently endless journey to find Earth.
• As Adama pulls out his gun and begins his suicide attempt, he is summoned to Rising Star. Upon entering the laboratory, Adama rebukes Doctor Gaius Zee for being summoned "like a daggit," for which Zee apologizes. Upon seeing the Voyager spacecraft, Adama questions if it is of Cylon origin; Zee notes Adama's apparent optimism over that otherwise disturbing fact.
• Zee boasts to Adama that the craft originates from Earth, and that it took him 3.2 centars to translate the Earth language. Upon questioning Zee as to why Adama was not immediately notified upon this discovery, and Zee notes that he is an "old man" and that "sometimes, my excitement gets the better of my judgment."
• Dillon raises his concern over the public reaction, noting that many among Galactica's hangar crew—not to mention civilians—have seen the craft during its recover and subsequent transfer from Galactica to Rising Star. Faced with this reality, and the fact that word has spread throughout the Fleet like wildfire, Adama and Zee address the Quorum of Twelve. While Adama advises that the Quorum be prepared with answers to the survivors' questions, Zee informs the Quorum that the humans on Earth are primitive and the Colonials would not be welcomed with open arms, but the reaction would be "inhospitable." Zee recommends that, for their safety and the safety of the Earthlings, they conquer the planet. Adama's reaction is one of sheer outrage.
• Adama advocates a peaceful meeting with the ones who constructed the Earth craft. The Quorum agrees. Before proceeding to their final destination, Adama makes his speech to the Colonial Fleet, announcing the discovery of Earth.
• NORAD detects two unknown craft (Colonial Vipers piloted by Troy and Dillon) flying at Mach-3, inbound to Washington, D.C. The Vipers are an advanced scout for Galactica, who ensure the area is clear for her arrival.
• In the White House, the President and his staff discuss the incursion of the two Vipers, attempting to get in touch with the Russian president, Leonid Brezhnev. The Secret Service agents rush in, noting that the White House is under attack and move to bring the President to the bunker. The President breaks free of the Secret Service agent's grip and rushes towards the window, seeing Galactica hovering overhead. Seeing the craft, he immediately elects the first strike option, ordering DEFCON-1 and the nuclear codes.
• For 67 centons since taking position above the White House, Galactica's crew attempts to contact the humans. They detect an inbound warhead; Adama asks the Gods to forgive him, as Zee was right. Galactica takes a hit amidships and is destroyed, crashing to the ground. Adama lives long enough to see the sunlight from the Earth, before losing consciousness.

Notes

The Galactica explodes!

• This comic's title is "Galactica Discovers Earth," an obvious nod to the Galactica 1980 pilot episode of the same name.
• Of note, there are two visual nods to the Re-imagined Series: the "clamshell blaster" (used in the Miniseries and the first season) that Adama holds to his temple during his aborted suicide attempt and the Colonial seal in the chambers of the Quorum of Twelve.
• While Colonel Boomer is introduced in this issue, his character is not defined in this issue other than his status as Galactica's executive officer. His fate at the end of this issue is unknown.
• The comic book uses the appearances and, generally, the same basic template of the television series, right down to the character's likenesses.
• The cover art for this first issue of the series is based on the cover for the (Region 1) DVD release of Galactica 1980.

• While Jamie Hamilton is shown on the cover, she is not introduced in this issue.

• The Alliance is mentioned as possible originators of the Voyager.
• The individual lecturing at Harvard University appears similar to Donald Mortinson, although this is neither confirmed nor denied by the content in the issue.

What's left of Galactica.

• Given the mention of Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, it is likely that the United States of America's President depicted in this issue is the 39th President, James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr.
• Adama's narration is taken from "Ship's log entry nine-seventeen-nineteen-seventy-eight." 17 September 1978 (which could be rendered as "9/17/1978" in the American vernacular) was the date the Original Series debuted on ABC.
• This issue ends with the following reading from Deuteronomy 34:4-5. Its use implies that Adama was the Colonials's Moses. Deuteronomy 34:4-5, as quoted in the issue, reads:

  And the Lord said unto him, this is the land which I swore unto Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, saying, "I will give it to thy descendants." I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.

• The term "yahren" is repeatedly misspelled in this issue.
• The use of the term "sire" by the general at the White House on page 16 is likely an error.

Analysis

• Read a review of this comic series here.
• This is a re-imagined take on the Galactica 1980 television series. Although the comic series draws from the visual cues from 1980, down to the likenesses and basic character elements established in that series's canon, the tone is considerably darker in terms of mood and cynicism (or realism, depending on the views of the reader). Differences from the series include demonstrations of the character's faults (Adama's depression and suicide attempt, Troy's drinking habits while on duty), the deteriorating conditions of the Fleet, women undergoing surgical procedures for sterilization, and the malaise of the general leadership.
• Characters introduced in this issue:
  • Adama maintains a calm demeanor in public, but contemplates suicide in the face of the long journey, demonstrating underlining longing for the Cylons to return. As opposed to his canonical counterpart, he is at odds with Doctor Zee over how to approach the people of Earth; Adama favors direct communication with their Earth brothers.
  • Troy is a cynical Warrior and has sought comfort in inebriation, as opposed to his canonical counterpart's considered, thoughtful approach and maturity.
  • Dillon is mature and level-headed, stoic and adhering to duty, much like the Troy of the 1980 series.
  • Doctor Zee is an old genius somehow transplanted in a young boy's body. While ultimately correct in his predictions that their Earth brothers are violent and would not welcome the Colonials with open arms, Zee is not without a sense of self-entitlement and condescending nature.
  • Boomer is much like his canonical counterpart and makes a fleeting appearance in this issue before the U.S. military's strike on Galactica.
• The U.S. President's order of a nuclear attack on Galactica seems foolhardy, unless he made it to the shelter unscathed. The success of the nuclear attack implies that Galactica is without energy shielding, or that such shielding was not employed.
• The invisibility field technology developed by Doctor Zee in the series is unused here. It may or may not have been invented.

Questions

Answered Questions

• With Galactica destroyed, what happens to the Fleet? What will be the Colonials's response? (Answer)
• What of the Cylons? (Answer)

Unanswered Questions

• How did Zee, who apparently was an old man, transfer his consciousness into a young boy?
• What is the nature of Zee's "experiments" on people?
• What happened to Apollo, Starbuck, Athena and the others?
• With the world now aware of an extra-terrestrial threat, not to mention the existence of such creatures, what will be the resulting social and political changes?

Noteworthy Dialogue

• Doctor Gaius Zee and Commander Adama discuss how to approach the humans on Earth:

Adama: These are our brethren. Younger, more primitive perhaps, but they are human and they are the descendants of the lost tribe. I cannot believe they would fail to welcome us as their brothers.

Zee: And if you're wrong, Adama, you'll cause panic among them on a planetary scale.

Quorum Member: What are you proposing, doctor?

Zee: Assuming sure and swift control over the planet will assure everyone's safety. Especially theirs.

Adama: No! I didn't travel billions of light-yarens (sic) to conquer other humans!

Zee: Not conquer, Adama. Colonize.

Adama: To what purpose? More fodder for your "experiments," perhaps? To what use would you have us put your human slaves?

Zee: Is a child a slave to his parent? These are not our "brothers," as you claim, Adama. At best, they are our children. And children must sometimes submit to the will of their parents for their own protection.

External links

• Galactica 1980 1 at Dynamite Entertainment

• Preview Article - Guggenheim Goes For Galactica 1980 - Comic Book Resoruces