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{{Short description|2003 graphic novel}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
⚫ {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{other uses|Orbiter (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox graphic novel <!--Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Comics--> {{Infobox graphic novel <!--Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Comics-->
|title = Orbiter |title = Orbiter
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|image = Orbiter tpb cover.jpg |image = Orbiter tpb cover.jpg
|imagesize = <!-- default 250 --> |imagesize = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption = Cover to ''Orbiter''. Art by ] |caption = Cover to ''Orbiter'', art by ].
|publisher = ] |publisher = ]
|date = April 2003 |date = April 2003
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|inkers = |inkers =
|colourists = ] |colourists = ]
|letterers = ] |letterers = Clem Robins
|editors = ] |editors = Art Young
|creators = |creators =
|transpublisher = |transpublisher =
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|US = y |US = y
}} }}

⚫ :''For other uses, see ]''


'''''Orbiter''''' is a ] by ] and ], published in 2003 by ] under their ] ]. '''''Orbiter''''' is a ] by ] and ], published in 2003 by ] under their ] ].


⚫ Ellis and Doran, both spaceflight enthusiasts, dedicated ''Orbiter'' to the "lives, memories and legacies" of the astronauts who died in the 2003 ].
It is a ] story set in the early 21st Century about a team of specialists employed to understand the mysterious reappearance of the ] ''Venture''. The shuttle crashed back to Earth after disappearing ten years earlier with its crew missing, save for the catatonic pilot, and ] technology on board.


==Synopsis==
⚫ Ellis and Doran are both space flight enthusiasts and dedicated ''Orbiter'' to the "lives, memories and legacies" of the astronauts who died in the 2003 ].
Ten years after the ] ''Venture'' mysteriously disappeared, it returns. Of its original crew of seven, only one remains — and he is ]; also, there is sand from ] in the shuttle's landing gear and the vessel itself appears to now have ]. Three specialists are brought in to investigate the ''Venture'' and its occupant, to find out what happened.


==Reception==
Warren Ellis received an Eisner Award nomination as Best Writer for his 2004 works including ''Orbiter''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/eisner04.php |title=2004 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards |publisher=Hahnlibrary.net |date=1943-04-19 |accessdate=2014-04-01}}</ref>
'']'' compared "Orbiter"'s narrative structure to Ellis's earlier work '']'', and commended Ellis for giving the story "emotional depth".<ref name=PW>, reviewed at ]; published September 15, 2003; retrieved March 14, 2017</ref> ] praised "Orbiter" for its "sincerity, its passionate engagement, and the bold inventiveness of its ideas", but overall considered that the plot moved too smoothly, with insufficient conflict; he also criticized Doran's portrayal of emotion.<ref name=Lalumiere>, reviewed by ], originally published in the '']'', August 2, 2003; archived at ] October 5, 2003; retrieved March 14, 2017</ref> ]'s Hilary Goldstein concluded that the book "isn't for everyone", but emphasized its appeal to "dreamers and space cadets".<ref name=IGN>, by Hilary Goldstein, at ]; published September 27, 2005; retrieved March 1, 2017</ref>


==Publication history== ==Publication history==
The graphic novel was first published as a hardcover by Vertigo in April 2003 (ISBN 1-4012-0056-7) and as a softcover by ] in May 2004 (ISBN 1-4012-0268-3). ] published a British softcover in June 2004 (ISBN 1840237244) The graphic novel was first published as a hardcover by Vertigo in April 2003 ({{ISBN|1-4012-0056-7}}) and as a softcover by ] in May 2004 ({{ISBN|1-4012-0268-3}}). ] published a British softcover in June 2004 ({{ISBN|1840237244}}).

==Plot synopsis==
The story begins with the crash of the Space Shuttle ''Venture'' into the area around ], which has been turned into slums as a result of its disappearance ten years earlier.

Three professionals are drafted (rather eagerly) to determine the cause of the incident.
*Michelle Robeson – biologist and the last living astronaut – is assigned to supervise the team studying the craft itself – and why it seems to be covered in skin.
*Terry Marx – a physicist employed by the severely reduced ] – is assigned to determine how the craft made its ten-year trip – and why there is sand from ] in its landing gear.
*Anna Bracken – psychiatrist formerly in charge of ] the astronauts – is assigned to analyze the sole remainder of the craft's crew of seven, John Cost – starting with his catatonic state.

As the study begins, mysteries continue to appear. Cost is forcibly sedated after re-experiencing the ''Venture'''s disappearance, and medical examination determines he has no ]. The ''Venture'' is physically incapable of landing on Mars. Marx theorizes a ], and is present when Robeson begins dismantling the ''Venture''.

Answers lead to more questions. The "skin" the craft is covered with is found to both absorb radioactivity and reinforce the craft's superstructure. The ] has been replaced with a ball of ] originating in the theoretical ]. It seems to create an ], meaning that it avoids ].

Under hypnosis, Cost describes effortlessly using the drive to land the ''Venture'' on Mars. Not only that, but when he decides to leave the craft, the "skin" envelops him, acting as a symbiotic EVA suit.

All these facts together drive Bracken to make a final, impassioned attempt to communicate with Cost. She tells him of Robeson's despair at losing space. She tells him of Marx's genius, wasted in a time where few dream of space. And she tells him about herself, how she wanted to experience the wonder of spaceflight through the eyes of astronauts.

Cost is pulled from his catatonic state, and tells all. Just before ''Venture'''s disappearance, he compares the limits of the Shuttle program to the glories of the ] with his crew. "We get the map. They got the distance. The perspective."

That's when it happened. The ''Venture'' was swept from Earth orbit to the Moon's shadow. The crew panics, and Cost orders a course back to the ] that will almost certainly ruin the craft for future flights. And then, ].

For an unknown length of time, an alien race has observed Humanity's expansion into space, waiting to be contacted, eagerly anticipating "playmates" with which to share the universe. When manned spaceflight slowed, they thought something had gone wrong. When they heard Cost speak of past glories, they acted. They took the ''Venture'' so they could speak to humans for the first time.

The aliens modified the ''Venture'' with technologies that would permit humans to truly explore space. But, they needed a human to communicate their message to the world. The crew chose to stay with the aliens, and learn. Cost chose to return to Earth and make the introduction. In response to his desires to see the wonders of the universe, the aliens programmed the craft to make a "grand tour" of everything Cost ever dreamed about.

This is why it took ten years for the ''Venture'' to return to Earth. It is also why Cost was catatonic upon his arrival, having long since been overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of his experiences.

Robeson's team has unlocked all the ''Venture'''s secrets save one – how to operate it.
Because only Cost could do it. Now, he takes Anna, Michelle, Terry (and Ali, one of Robeson's team, upon whom he was developing a crush) aboard the ''Venture'' "to meet them".
<!-- Uncomment when footnotes are added
==Notes==
⚫ {{Reflist}} -->


==References== ==References==
⚫ {{Reflist}}

<references />
{{Refbegin}} {{Refbegin}}
*{{gcdb series|id=13054|title=''Orbiter'' (hardcover)}} * {{gcdb series|id=13054|title=Orbiter (hardcover)}}
*{{gcdb series|id=25669|title=''Orbiter'' (softcover)}} * {{gcdb series|id=25669|title=Orbiter (softcover)}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=title|id=1364|title=''Orbiter''}} * {{comicbookdb|type=title|id=1364|title=''Orbiter''}}
{{Refend}} {{Refend}}

==External links==
*
*
*
*
*


{{Warren Ellis|type=comic}} {{Warren Ellis|type=comic}}
]

] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 13:28, 4 December 2024

2003 graphic novel For other uses, see Orbiter (disambiguation).
Orbiter
Cover to Orbiter, art by Colleen Doran.
DateApril 2003
Page count104 pages
PublisherVertigo
Creative team
WritersWarren Ellis
ArtistsColleen Doran
LetterersClem Robins
ColouristsDave Stewart
EditorsArt Young
ISBN1-4012-0056-7

Orbiter is a graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran, published in 2003 by DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint.

Ellis and Doran, both spaceflight enthusiasts, dedicated Orbiter to the "lives, memories and legacies" of the astronauts who died in the 2003 Columbia disaster.

Synopsis

Ten years after the Space Shuttle Venture mysteriously disappeared, it returns. Of its original crew of seven, only one remains — and he is catatonic; also, there is sand from Mars in the shuttle's landing gear and the vessel itself appears to now have skin. Three specialists are brought in to investigate the Venture and its occupant, to find out what happened.

Reception

Publishers Weekly compared "Orbiter"'s narrative structure to Ellis's earlier work Planetary, and commended Ellis for giving the story "emotional depth". Claude Lalumiere praised "Orbiter" for its "sincerity, its passionate engagement, and the bold inventiveness of its ideas", but overall considered that the plot moved too smoothly, with insufficient conflict; he also criticized Doran's portrayal of emotion. IGN's Hilary Goldstein concluded that the book "isn't for everyone", but emphasized its appeal to "dreamers and space cadets".

Publication history

The graphic novel was first published as a hardcover by Vertigo in April 2003 (ISBN 1-4012-0056-7) and as a softcover by Little Brown in May 2004 (ISBN 1-4012-0268-3). Titan Books published a British softcover in June 2004 (ISBN 1840237244).

References

  1. ORBITER, reviewed at Publishers Weekly; published September 15, 2003; retrieved March 14, 2017
  2. Orbiter, by Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran, reviewed by Claude Lalumiere, originally published in the Montreal Gazette, August 2, 2003; archived at Infinity Plus October 5, 2003; retrieved March 14, 2017
  3. Orbiter Review, by Hilary Goldstein, at IGN; published September 27, 2005; retrieved March 1, 2017
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