The new 13-part Mass Effect comic series begins. Do we have a quality story or a game cash-in? With the lead writer of Mass Effect 2 and 3, two of the greatest games of all time, writing it, what do you expect?

Here’s the official description from Dark Horse:

Mass Effect 2 and 3 lead writer Mac Walters kicks off a new ongoing series, set in the vibrant, engaging world of BioWare’s blockbuster science fiction epic!

Mass Effect: Foundation starts with a bang, introducing readers to an enigmatic “agent” and revealing the story of her time spent on the violent mining colony of Themis.

The interesting thing about the Mass Effect universe is how expansive it is. Much like Star Wars, there’s room for stories all over the place, whether they be in the past, present, or future. If Star Wars is the greatest science fiction movie series of all time, then Mass Effect would be the greatest sci fi video game series of all time. Foundation is a new story in this universe. It’s a definite must buy, even if you’ve never played the games.

Mac Walters is the lead writer of Mass Effect 2 and 3, so you can expect quality writing especially since he knows the universe well. This series, while taking place in that universe, right now hasn’t really made any connection to Commander Shepard’s exploits. So a new reader can jump aboard nicely for a fresh sci fi story. The story focuses on two characters, a boy and Agent Brooks. Walters succeeds in showing a rather horrible lifestyle the boy leads, getting beat around by men far older than him. It’s when Agent Brookes comes along that the adventure begins. Brooks is a truly fantastic character, in just 32 pages she proves to be one of the coolest female characters in awhile. The showdown between her and Roth’s agent was brutal, just as something you’d expect from Mass Effect.

Omar Francia handles the art, and it’s pretty solid. The characters look great and Brooks is drawn with a fair set of emotions. (Or rather fake emotions when the time calls for it.) The cover is a fantastic representation of the fight between her and the agent. Surprisingly there are no variants, but this cover is good enough.

Overall, Foundation has a very solid start. Marc Walters writes a fantastic story, I’d like to see him tackle some more sci fi comics in the future. The characters are likable, especially Brooks. And the ending will completely surprise you, because just as you think you know where the story is going, it changes drastically.

4.5/5

Daniel is a big fan of the Mass Effect series. He likes Commander Shepard, Tali, Legion, and you can follow him on Twitter: @Destroyer_199