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Mass Effect: Foundation # 9 by Mac Walters (Writer) and Tony Parker (Artist) (comic-book review).

Mass Effect: Foundation’ is a series of comics exploring the back stories of the companions available to the player character Shepard in the trilogy of video games, ‘Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3’. With issue nine, we return to the formula established early on, which is both good and bad.

Mass Effect: Foundation #9

Mass Effect: Foundation (#9)
Mass Effect: Foundation (#9)

After a brief check in with Agent Rasa where we learn she is recovering from the poison, we dive off the deep end into another seemingly disconnected story. I can only assume what follows is a ‘re-enactment’ of events, much like the episode where we explored Kaidan Alenko’s past. This time, we’re looking in on Dr. Mordin Solus, famed Salarian biologist…and more. Mordin is a fascinating character and I looked forward to learning more about him. None of the issues thus far has really told us anything we didn’t already know however or could not have surmised from the clues hidden in every companion conversation throughout the three games. The point of these comics seems to be to illustrate moments rather than add to canon.

Mordin is tasked with developing a new strain of the genophage, a bio-engineered plague that was used to sterilize the war-like Krogan in an effort to stop them from breeding destruction. A month or so later, Mordin travels to Tuchanka to conduct tests. This is where we get a glimpse of the beginnings of the remorse Mordin so obliquely expresses in-game. He makes note of the architecture and ruins and comments that he was not aware the Krogan were capable of such feats. He also ponders the purpose of his work. Both are observations we encounter later, in ‘Mass Effect 3’.

Mordin and his team encounter a Krogan female and a fight ensues. We get to see our favourite salarian kicking ass and taking names, which is both gratifying and somewhat uncomfortable, given the nature of his work.

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Mordin’s voice is captured perfectly in this comic. I could hear him in my head, which is exactly how it should be when reading characters you’ve heard/seen elsewhere. The salarians, in general, acted as salarians do, bickering and fighting. The time frame confused me. From the game, I got the impression the salarians were on Tuchanka for a lot longer than the comic indicated. Maybe this episode recalls a different visit?

No particular comments on the artwork this time ‘round. It did what it was supposed to do. I can’t say as Mordin was completely recognisable, but his distinct ‘voice’ separated him from the other salarians well enough.

Kelly Jensen

March 2014

(pub: Dark Horse Comics. 32 page comic. Price: $ 3.99 (US))

check out website: www.darkhorse.com/Comics/20-470/Mass-Effect-Foundation-9

Kelly Jensen

Writer of love stories. Bibliophile. Gamer. Cat herder.

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