Deathtrap!: Difference between revisions

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* The Ovions are members of the {{alt|Alliance}}, and the {{alt|Cylons|TOS}} allow the humans to live on Carillon, despite the {{alt|Imperious Leader}}'s standing order on the humans: extermination. This illustrates that leeway exists with this edict, particularly when the logical result is humans being killed by humans.
* The Ovions are members of the {{alt|Alliance}}, and the {{alt|Cylons|TOS}} allow the humans to live on Carillon, despite the {{alt|Imperious Leader}}'s standing order on the humans: extermination. This illustrates that leeway exists with this edict, particularly when the logical result is humans being killed by humans.
* {{alt|Serina}} picks up on the Ovions' approach to humans as cows, although does not follow it to the logical conclusion immediately.
* {{alt|Serina}} picks up on the Ovions' approach to humans as cows, although does not follow it to the logical conclusion immediately.
* The Cylons refer to the Ovions on Carillon as the "Lords of Ovion," suggesting that Ovion is either a place on Carillon, or a place elsewhere in the galaxy.
* The [[supreme star force]] had indeed been stationed at {{alt|Borallus}}, as {{alt|Adama|TOS}} had feared. However, he never received direct confirmation of his fears in this particular instance.


== Questions ==
== Questions ==

Revision as of 04:00, 30 July 2021

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Deathtrap!
Deathtrap!
An issue of the Marvel Comics series.
Issue No. 3
Writer(s) Roger McKenzie
Illustrator(s) {{{illustrator}}}
Penciller(s) Ernie Colon
Inker(s) Ernie Colon
Colorist(s) Marie Severin
Letterer(s) Jim Novak
Editor(s) Jim Shooter
Collection Design {{{designer}}}
Cover Artist(s) Rudy Nebres
Adaptation of Saga of a Star World (Part 3)
Published May 1979
Collects
Collected in Saga of a Star World
Reprints Marvel Super Special #8: Battlestar Galactica (Part 3)
Reprinted as
Pages {{{pages}}}
ISBN [[Special:Booksources/|]]
Population 0 Survivors
Special {{{special}}}
Chronology
Previous Next
Exodus! Deathtrap! Into the Void
Purchase
Available at BOOKSAMILLION.COM - Purchase
Available at Amazon.com – [[amazon:{{{amazon}}}|Purchase]]
Available at Amazon.co.ukPurchase
Available at Things From Another World - Purchase


This comic is the last of three issues adapting the Original Series' "Saga of a Star World."

Plot[edit]

  • The trio of Warriors, Captain Apollo and Lieutenants Boomer and Starbuck, are aided by Galactica in clearing the Cylon minefield in the Nova of Madagon.
  • Athena reports that the Vipers are clearing a path a hundred maxims wide.
  • After Tigh's report of clearing through the nova, Adama praises the Gods of Kobol. He orders the fighters recalled and the retraction of Galactica's radiation shields. In doing so, they behold their eyes on the dark world of Carillon.
  • Some several hundred quadrons away, the Imperious Leader is informed that the survivors have not been found. The Leader is assured that the survivors' lack of provisions will result in their capture within their star system, and that they will wait for this to occur.
  • Mineral ships and landram parties are dispatched to Carillon's dark surface.
  • Starbuck and Boomer, as part of expedition one, are given coordinates to a potential caretaker operation sighted by Blue Squadron. In their landram, Starbuck is corrected by Boomer regarding the fact that they are seeing the surface of Carillon during its daytime period.
  • In another landram some "millicentons away," Apollo instructs Boxey to keep an eye on a readout that will report tylium readings. With them are Serina and Muffey II.
  • During a conversation between Serina and Apollo, Boxey inquires as to why they need to keep moving from planet to planet. Apollo informs the youth that people hurt others because of any and all perceived differences, whether physical, spiritual or belief. He asks why they don't "kill them back," to which Apollo replies that by doing so they would change what they are to be like their aggressors. As Boxey asks more narrowing questions, Apollo points out that life can be complicated.
  • The indicator in their landram signals presence of tylium, and Apollo congratulates Boxey for doing his job. Believing they are over the old tylium mine, the landram stops.
  • Muffey then jumps out of the landram, yipping incessantly as the drone heads into the darkness. Boxey hurries out, calling after Muffey; Apollo instructs Serina to stay.
  • Boxey is surrounded by Ovions, one of whom covers Boxey's mouth with a claw.
  • Starbuck and Boomer come across a resort, draw their laser pistols and enter, encountering a woman who informs them that they're in a resort. She recognizes them as Colonial Warriors and relates the fact that she won a satchel's worth of cubits. The disbelieving Warriors continue into the resort, wondering how no one heard about the destruction of the Colonies.
  • They are approached by a heavy-set humanoid greeter, and Boomer concocts a story about being on a recon patrol to ensure that the armistice is observed. The greeter welcomes them and shares with them that food and drink are on the house before ambling away.
  • Starbuck shares his concern with Boomer about keeping mum about their intentions, believing that it will only take one person to alert the Cylon war machine of their presence. Boomer agrees and advocates for reporting to the Fleet what they've uncovered.
  • Apollo and Serina drive along in the landram in search of Boxey and Muffey, but stop when encountering a group of Ovions. They get out and are escorted to a cave-like opening, leading to a mine that Apollo believes to be the largest in the star system.
  • They are welcomed by a robed Ovion, who welcomes them to Carillon. Apollo asks the Ovion where Boxey is. As their guide walks them through the mine, the Ovion shares with Apollo the fact that they are all one community, hewing to order without need for competition or jealousy. The Ovion leads them to an elevator, where they are told to be "well fed, well entertained" to their contentment.
  • Serina angrily seethes at the comment, asking what the Ovions believe the humans to be, "cows?"
  • They are reunited with Boxey and Muffey, who is with both Starbuck and Boomer inside the establishment, and feasting on food and drink at a table. Starbuck relays that the Ovions have much to share and are happy to do so.
  • The robed Ovion reports to their Centurion overseer, noting that the humans have allowed only a few of their Warriors to land with the rest standing alert on Galactica. The Centurion assures them that this will change as the humans embrace the Ovions' hospitality, noting their unparalleled experiencing in "dining with humans."
  • The Imperious Leader is given a report by the Centurion, noting that the humans have arrived at Carillon and have "fallen prey to the Lords of Ovion." The pleased Leader commands that the humans' forces are to be rendered impotent, so that the supreme star force, dispatching from Borallus, will be in a position to annihilate the survivors.
  • On Galactica, Tigh reports that the squadron of Vipers have launched as Adama ordered. Tigh shares his concern about running afoul of Sire Uri, but Adama is adamant that the risk be taken as it is his vow that he never lead the humans into the Cylons' deception again.
  • Boomer finds Starbuck at a gambling table, and pulls him away to discuss a matter privately. Boomer shares his feelings that the casino is wrong, and asks Starbuck if he's ever "been in a chancery where you couldn't lose your money?" Boomer and Starbuck make way to a lounge, discussing the issue further, and noting that no one has ever even heard of Carillon. With its riches and entertainments, such a place would be well known throughout the star system. He notes that people there are a smattering of humans from their homeworlds: Caprica, Tauron, and Sagitaria.
  • Starbuck becomes distracted by a trio of women, believing that they can put them on the "star circuit." Boomer admonishes Starbuck for his flight of fancy, with Starbuck rebuffing him that their plight couldn't last forever. Boomer replies with a rumor that guest just drop out of sight, to which Starbuck replies that he's heard of a tour that many people take before returning home.
  • Meanwhile, somewhere in the casino, two people find out what's in the lower levels -- much to a woman's horror, after she calls after the "Gods of Kobol" at what she's beheld.
  • Off in the distance, Boomer brings to Starbuck's attention three men, who wear uniforms from their squadron, but are clearly not people they recognize.

Notes[edit]

General[edit]

  • Cassiopeia is absent from this issue entirely. She reappears in A Death in the Family.
  • Sire Uri is only mentioned by Tigh when he questions Adama on his plan, but appears again beginning in The Memory Machine.
  • It is unspecified if the robed Ovion who escorts Apollo and Serina through the mines is Lotay.
  • A translator, or languatron, is not used to understand Ovions as they speak in the Colonial standard language.

Differences[edit]

  • This last act of the storyline differs greatly from the end of "Saga of a Star World," notably:
    • The comic eschews the love triangle between Athena, Cassiopeia and Starbuck, and as such neither woman is actually seen on Carillon.
    • The structure of Ovions' society is greatly explained. Further, the languatron is nowhere to be seen, as the Ovions can speak in the human tongue.
    • Although Adama and Tigh send ersatz Warriors to Carillon to fool "whoever would be watching" into believing that the Colonials had relaxed their military defenses, the sub-plot where Sire Uri awards the Gold Cluster to Apollo, Boomer and Starbuck does not exist. As such, when Starbuck and Boomer uncover the ersatz Warriors and attempt to pursue, they are not in ceremonial garb. Furthermore, Uri is only mentioned, but would later be a continuing foil throughout the Marvel storyline.
    • The presence of Imperious Leader at Carillon is unknown.
    • The epilogue featuring Baltar's salvation at the hands of the Cylons is absent, although integrated into Into the Void.

Publication History[edit]

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[edit]

  • The Ovions are members of the Alliance, and the Cylons allow the humans to live on Carillon, despite the Imperious Leader's standing order on the humans: extermination. This illustrates that leeway exists with this edict, particularly when the logical result is humans being killed by humans.
  • Serina picks up on the Ovions' approach to humans as cows, although does not follow it to the logical conclusion immediately.
  • The Cylons refer to the Ovions on Carillon as the "Lords of Ovion," suggesting that Ovion is either a place on Carillon, or a place elsewhere in the galaxy.
  • The supreme star force had indeed been stationed at Borallus, as Adama had feared. However, he never received direct confirmation of his fears in this particular instance.

Questions[edit]

  • How long have the Ovions served under the Cylons?
  • Are other aliens patrons of the chancery also eaten by the Ovions?
  • How long have the Ovions "advertised" Carillon to travel agents?
  • Were the Ovions original inhabitants of Carillon?

See also[edit]