RETRO REVIEW: Battlestar Galactica #16

Marvel Comics; 40¢

Because the original Marvel Comics incarnation of Battlestar Galactica started unevenly, many fans had given up or never even checked out the title by the time the June 1980 issue, Battlestar Galactica #16, arrived on the scene. And if so, boy, did they miss a gem.

Roger McKenzie, who introduced a number of clever concepts during his tenure, wrote the majority of the issues of the Marvel series, though some very recognizable names also took turns scripting, mostly without McKenzie’s level of success. One of the things he did in this one was show us that we hadn’t seen every type of Cylon yet (as is the case with this issue).

For what turned out to be his last issue, he was teamed with artist Walter Simonson, who had illustrated several issues previously and would later go on to write the series with a good deal of success as well (Under Simonson, the book really took off creatively. Given his subsequent track record, that doesn’t seem like a surprise, but if fans at the time knew his name – Manhunter was already a legend – it likely wasn’t as a writer yet).

In Battlestar Galactica #16, Captain Apollo faces off against an independent, high-functioning, different kind of Cylon, pretty much alone on a dangerous alien world. The story and art had a World War I, Red Barron kind of feel to it, and it stands out as one of the best of the 23-issue run.

“Berserker” arrived under a distinctive cover by Simonson touting “The Cylon Mark III – There is no comparison.” It showcased this new, advanced Cylon, Apollo, their respective ships, and the Galactica, with lots of action going on.

Although it had never been a favorite comic of mine until that point, this issue changed all that.

– J.C. Vaughn