Terry's Reviews > Mass Effect, Volume 2: Evolution

Humanity’s first contact with an alien race leads to intergalactic war. The human colony of Shanxi is decimated by the turians, but mercenary Jack Harper strikes a blow for the resistance, capturing a turian general and learning of an ancient alien artifact. The artifact has the power to spark evolution, and Harper’s passing exposure to it gives him mastery of alien languages and a psychic connection to the monolith. Now Harper and his mercenaries must track down the artifact before the turians use it to create supersoldiers. This is the second tie-in volume to the hit video game series; the lead writer for the game, Walters (Mass Effect: Redemption), provides the story, making these events canonical. Miller (Star Wars: Knight Errant) scripts an involved plot, and Francia (Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II) meets the challenge of combining distinctive character designs and alien landscapes with convincing action.

Verdict: Mass Effect is a popular video game series, and this graphic novel volume will mean a lot to its fanbase; however, it will overwhelm readers simply searching for a space opera.

[Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books, March 30, 2012]