Comic Break: Ender's Game Battle School #2 (Marvel)

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Ender's Game Battle School
Issue: #2
Writer: Christopher Yost
Artist: Pasqual Ferry
32 pp. Marvel. $3.99

Reviewed by Paul Stotts

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“There’s only one boy on this launch with any brains at all. And that’s Ender Wiggin.”—Christopher Yost, Ender’s Game: Battle School #2

After a marvelous debut issue, I was greatly anticipating the second issue of Marvel’s new Orson Scott Card-inspired mini-series, Ender’s Game: Battle School. Thankfully, the issue didn’t disappoint. Writer Christopher Yost and artist-extraordinaire Pasqual Ferry have created another stellar chapter in the saga of Ender Wiggin.

It’s not long after arriving at Battle School that Ender is singled out by his teachers and classmates, which effectively puts a bullseye on Ender’s back. It’s not easy being a boy genius. Still even under intense scrutiny and expectations Ender excels and makes a few friends in the process.

Marvel picked the right man when they signed up Christopher Yost to do the scripting on the series. Yost is a talented writer. He’s able to pack a tremendous amount of story into an issue without resorting to using info-dumps to move events along. Instead he relies on the dramatic tension between Ender and his classmates to drive the narrative forward, while leaving the mechanics behind Battle School left unexplained.

Ender is perfectly realized, but who some of the other children are was unclear to me. There were a few points in the story where I was confused about who Ender was talking to. Even after rereading the issue, I’m not sure I alleviated all my confusion. However these characters have such a minor role that it doesn’t negatively impact the storyline.

The interiors by Pasqual Ferry and colorist Frank D’Armata are fantastic. Ferry seemingly can’t draw a poor panel. After only two issues, Ferry and D’Armata have already created an incredibly distinctive signature look for the series. There really is nothing currently out there in comicdom that looks quite like this. This is beautiful top-notch work.

Another must-grab issue in the series.

Final Grade: 86 out of 100

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Comic Break: Ender's Game Battle School #1 (Marvel)