silvae's review
2.0
Yet another boring entry in the Mass Effect Comics universe. Rasa continues to be a yawn-worthy character who has nothing going for her except for her ~tragic past~ and while it's nice to see familiar faces, I already forgot what happened in this book.
nina_al's review
adventurous
3.0
I can't cope with how much I disliked the art style. The characters didn't look even remotely like themselves.
klsteel's review
5.0
I'd say that the Foundation comics got better as they went on. Sometimes the artwork gets a little wonky, but it didn't deter from the story necessarily.
caitcoy's review
2.0
1.5 stars, rounded up because the Blasto story was pretty entertaining.
I love Mass Effect but this was even more underwhelming than the first volume.
The first story follows Miranda Lawson and Jacob Taylor as they hunt for Shepherd's body in the Terminus systems. It shows how Jacob gets drawn into the Cerberus organization and is mostly just a meh story about dealing with slavers and other unscrupulous types. Not terrible but not anything that particularly held my attention.
The second story follows Cerberus agents Rasa and Kai Leng as they try to capture Jack, one of the most entertaining biotic characters from the series. Jack felt true to form and this might have been an okay story had it not been for the artwork. Because good God I have no idea how this is the finished product. It looks like the drafting sketches you would make before actually completing the work. The awfulness of the artwork made it hard to pay much attention to the story in all honesty. Then Rasa ends up crossing paths with Thane Krios in a super lame story that had me rolling my eyes at least every other page. I am so tired of Rasa already, these stories just seem to get more and more boring as they have her cross paths with every single Mass Effect crew mate they can think of.
The final story is the only reason that this volume is getting more than one star. Not sure how many people remember hearing the advertisements for Blasto the Hanar Spectre movies in the first game but they were hilarious. This issue follows one of Blasto's missions and is terrible but in all the awesome, cheesy action movie ways. It's full of one liners and ridiculous villains and it was at least way more fun than the other stories.
Bottom line: this volume reminded me of all the reasons that I generally don't read tie-in stories. They're boring and feel like such a marketing ploy. Most of the stories felt like they had no point except to bring up favorite characters for fans to squeal over. Definitely not worth picking up unless you're super desperate for a Mass Effect story.
I love Mass Effect but this was even more underwhelming than the first volume.
The first story follows Miranda Lawson and Jacob Taylor as they hunt for Shepherd's body in the Terminus systems. It shows how Jacob gets drawn into the Cerberus organization and is mostly just a meh story about dealing with slavers and other unscrupulous types. Not terrible but not anything that particularly held my attention.
The second story follows Cerberus agents Rasa and Kai Leng as they try to capture Jack, one of the most entertaining biotic characters from the series. Jack felt true to form and this might have been an okay story had it not been for the artwork. Because good God I have no idea how this is the finished product. It looks like the drafting sketches you would make before actually completing the work. The awfulness of the artwork made it hard to pay much attention to the story in all honesty. Then Rasa ends up crossing paths with Thane Krios in a super lame story that had me rolling my eyes at least every other page. I am so tired of Rasa already, these stories just seem to get more and more boring as they have her cross paths with every single Mass Effect crew mate they can think of.
The final story is the only reason that this volume is getting more than one star. Not sure how many people remember hearing the advertisements for Blasto the Hanar Spectre movies in the first game but they were hilarious. This issue follows one of Blasto's missions and is terrible but in all the awesome, cheesy action movie ways. It's full of one liners and ridiculous villains and it was at least way more fun than the other stories.
Bottom line: this volume reminded me of all the reasons that I generally don't read tie-in stories. They're boring and feel like such a marketing ploy. Most of the stories felt like they had no point except to bring up favorite characters for fans to squeal over. Definitely not worth picking up unless you're super desperate for a Mass Effect story.
rinn's review
3.0
I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.
You know the drill by now. I saw a Mass Effect book on Netgalley, so I requested it. I am an unashamed fangirl of the series, and will read everything and anything I can get my hands on, despite not being overly impressed with the books so far. However, I enjoyed the first volume of the Foundation series more than previous series, so was looking forward to reading the next volume.
This particular chapter of the Mass Effect story is set between the events of the Mass Effect 2 prologue and the main story, when Commander Shepard is presumed dead after the attack on the Normandy. It brings in plenty of familiar characters: Miranda, Jacob, Thane, Jack, Kai Leng and the Illusive Man. The reader learns how Jacob came to be a part of Cerberus, and how Shepard’s body was found. It also introduces a couple of new characters, but to be honest I was more interested in learning more about my beloved squad mates from the games – and it didn’t disappoint.
I’ve always seen Jacob as a truly nice guy, although he’s never been a favourite character of mine he was always someone I felt my Shepard could rely on, someone who was utterly loyal. In Mass Effect Foundation he is shown as the soldier out to protect civilians and friends, at any cost – fitting my view of him. And as ever, Miranda is loyal to the job, despite the consequences. Oh, and it’s not just cameras that linger on a view of her rather full derriere, apparently…
With some truly gorgeous full pages of art, this is definitely a lovely collector’s item for Mass Effect fans – particularly one of Jack and Jacob fighting a group of Batarians. The colour scheme is also definitely very fitting, including subtle shades of greys, oranges and reds, with the added neon colours of the various bars and establishments of the Citadel, Omega and Illium.
However, some of the panels just felt really lazy, as if they were almost just the original sketchy ideas, rather than the finalised drawing. One section of the story featured a lot of ‘faceless’ panels – I could understand this if the characters were far off in the distance, but this was even when they were the main focus of a panel. In one chapter, the features of Jacob’s and Miranda’s faces varied wildly, and in Jack’s chapter some of the art was just so unpolished to the extent of looking unfinished.
I have to say though, my absolute favourite part of this new addition to the Mass Effect universe was the bonus story at the end. It’s a 40′s style crime noir, featuring a brave Hanar (yes, you read that correctly) and his attractive Asari companion. It’s everything you could ever want in such a story: a Hanar solving crimes, mowing down hordes of Krogans effortlessly with eight pistols at once, and of course our hero gets the girl. Plus this quote:
‘”This one thinks the Krogan scum must ask the question – does it feel fortunate? Do you, scum?”
Overall, an interesting addition to the Mass Effect universe, but sadly let down by some of the artwork. However, it’s work it just for the bonus short story at the end.
You know the drill by now. I saw a Mass Effect book on Netgalley, so I requested it. I am an unashamed fangirl of the series, and will read everything and anything I can get my hands on, despite not being overly impressed with the books so far. However, I enjoyed the first volume of the Foundation series more than previous series, so was looking forward to reading the next volume.
This particular chapter of the Mass Effect story is set between the events of the Mass Effect 2 prologue and the main story, when Commander Shepard is presumed dead after the attack on the Normandy. It brings in plenty of familiar characters: Miranda, Jacob, Thane, Jack, Kai Leng and the Illusive Man. The reader learns how Jacob came to be a part of Cerberus, and how Shepard’s body was found. It also introduces a couple of new characters, but to be honest I was more interested in learning more about my beloved squad mates from the games – and it didn’t disappoint.
I’ve always seen Jacob as a truly nice guy, although he’s never been a favourite character of mine he was always someone I felt my Shepard could rely on, someone who was utterly loyal. In Mass Effect Foundation he is shown as the soldier out to protect civilians and friends, at any cost – fitting my view of him. And as ever, Miranda is loyal to the job, despite the consequences. Oh, and it’s not just cameras that linger on a view of her rather full derriere, apparently…
With some truly gorgeous full pages of art, this is definitely a lovely collector’s item for Mass Effect fans – particularly one of Jack and Jacob fighting a group of Batarians. The colour scheme is also definitely very fitting, including subtle shades of greys, oranges and reds, with the added neon colours of the various bars and establishments of the Citadel, Omega and Illium.
However, some of the panels just felt really lazy, as if they were almost just the original sketchy ideas, rather than the finalised drawing. One section of the story featured a lot of ‘faceless’ panels – I could understand this if the characters were far off in the distance, but this was even when they were the main focus of a panel. In one chapter, the features of Jacob’s and Miranda’s faces varied wildly, and in Jack’s chapter some of the art was just so unpolished to the extent of looking unfinished.
I have to say though, my absolute favourite part of this new addition to the Mass Effect universe was the bonus story at the end. It’s a 40′s style crime noir, featuring a brave Hanar (yes, you read that correctly) and his attractive Asari companion. It’s everything you could ever want in such a story: a Hanar solving crimes, mowing down hordes of Krogans effortlessly with eight pistols at once, and of course our hero gets the girl. Plus this quote:
‘”This one thinks the Krogan scum must ask the question – does it feel fortunate? Do you, scum?”
Overall, an interesting addition to the Mass Effect universe, but sadly let down by some of the artwork. However, it’s work it just for the bonus short story at the end.
yarnofariadne's review
3.0
hum
i am aware this is technically canon but i may just elect to ignore it
i am aware this is technically canon but i may just elect to ignore it
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