David A. Goodman (1) (1962–)

This third collection of comics based on the TV show The Orville features two stories of two parts each.

The first, "Digressions," revisits the alternate universe featured at the end of season 2 of the show and gives us a look at how things developed there. Specifically, it shows us a little bit of how the events of "Identity" went in that world, something I'd definitely been curious about. It doesn't tell us a whole lot that we didn't already know, but I think it answers a question or two about the alternate universe that weren't fully addressed on the show, and it does a decent job of filling in a gap. Not that there might not still be things left to explore there. Personally, I'd happily read a whole series of comics set in that universe.

The story does rely a bit much on coincidence, specifically on important characters just randomly happening to meet at exactly the right time even though they don't know each other in this universe. But I think that sort of thing is pretty much par for the course for this kind of story, so I don't really hold it against them. I am a little disappointed not to learn more about this universe's version of Isaac, who I've always been very curious about. We don't get to see him in action here, but mostly only when he's been deactivated. We do, however, get to see a really sharp contrast between how the people around him react to him in that state here vs in the show's "real" reality, and I like the way that's written. It doesn't call attention to itself, but if you know why it's significant, it does make what happens next feel a lot more inevitable. (And if you don't know why it's significant, you really shouldn't be reading this one. Not only will it not make much sense if you haven't seen all the relevant episodes, exposition notwithstanding, it will pretty thoroughly spoil them for you if you ever do watch them.)

The second story, "Artifacts," is a bit slight, but it does feel like the sort of thing that could have appeared as an episode on the show. Ed runs into his old archeology professor (who was also Gordon's archeology professor, although he refuses to admit to remembering the guy he nearly failed). He's made a potential breakthrough discovery concerning the whereabouts of an ancient, powerful alien fleet, so even though it's in a really dangerous place, The Orville goes to check it out.

The main thing I found interesting about this one is that, after watching season 3, its hey-look-at-this-starship-crew-full-of-ordinary-screw-ups sense of humor kind of feels like it belongs to a bygone era. It works well enough, though, and is reasonably amusing. (Plus, there's a stealthy Star Trek reference that made me laugh a lot.) And even here, there's a least a little bit of moral-dilemma meat to think over, although nothing like what the show gives us at its best.

And with that, I am now completely out of new Orville-related stuff to enjoy. I am sad about that. I really, really want a season 4. Why has there not yet been an announcement about that??!! I will also happily take more comics while I'm waiting, too. I'd like something set after season 3, preferably with a focus on the Finn family, please and thank you!… (mere)