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Letter 44 Compendium
President Blades has just become the most powerful man on the planet. This planet.
Newly-elected president Stephen Blades hoped to tackle the most critical issues facing the nation: war, the economy, and a failing health care system. But in a letter penned by the outgoing president, Blades learns the truth that redefines "critical": seven years ago, NASA discovered an alien presence in the asteroid belt and kept it a secret from the world. A stealth mission crewed by nine astronauts was sent to make contact, and they’re getting close—assuming they survive the long journey to reach their destination. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, President Blades must decide if Earth is ready to learn that we are not alone, or if this information will spark World War III.
Read the complete series, collected in one compendium for the first time ever!
Newly-elected president Stephen Blades hoped to tackle the most critical issues facing the nation: war, the economy, and a failing health care system. But in a letter penned by the outgoing president, Blades learns the truth that redefines "critical": seven years ago, NASA discovered an alien presence in the asteroid belt and kept it a secret from the world. A stealth mission crewed by nine astronauts was sent to make contact, and they’re getting close—assuming they survive the long journey to reach their destination. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, President Blades must decide if Earth is ready to learn that we are not alone, or if this information will spark World War III.
Read the complete series, collected in one compendium for the first time ever!
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
856 pages, Paperback
Published August 5, 2025
About the author
Charles Soule
1,554 books1,723 followersCharles Soule is a #1 New York Times-bestselling novelist, comics author, screenwriter, musician, and lapsed attorney. He has written some of the most prominent stories of the last decade for Marvel, DC and Lucasfilm in addition to his own work, such as his comics Curse Words, Letter 44 and Undiscovered Country, and his original novels Light of the Jedi, The Endless Vessel, The Oracle Year and Anyone. He lives in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 9, 2026
Part The West Wing, part first contact narrative, Letter 44 tells the dual story of a US president that finds out aliens are real as well the astronauts tasked with exploring the extraterrestrial anomaly. Personal and political intrigue ensue (enough for any prestige television saga) making this compendium a compelling page-turner.
Be warned this is very much a dialogue-first comic: illustrator Alberto Jimenez Albuquerque's talents lie more in depicting spacecraft than people and he seems to have been hired more for his ability to meet a deadline than his style. Storywise, the plot does start to stretch thin about two-thirds of the way through and has at least one confusing tangle surrounding a minor character. Still, Soule and company manage to tell a compelling sci-fi epic across 35 comic book issues, a feat not often achieved with this consistency and focus.
Be warned this is very much a dialogue-first comic: illustrator Alberto Jimenez Albuquerque's talents lie more in depicting spacecraft than people and he seems to have been hired more for his ability to meet a deadline than his style. Storywise, the plot does start to stretch thin about two-thirds of the way through and has at least one confusing tangle surrounding a minor character. Still, Soule and company manage to tell a compelling sci-fi epic across 35 comic book issues, a feat not often achieved with this consistency and focus.
October 9, 2025
I love this book. Proper hard science fiction and political story. Incredible scripting and pacing from Soule create such a unique well fleshed-out story that avoids clichés, tropes, and the like. Albuquerque's art is simply flawless throughout. Haven't read a better sci-fi graphic novel. Bravo Mr. Soule on your "first big book;" and what a beautiful job done on the compendium from the whole creative team. Loved the afterword also, nice touch.
November 7, 2025
Good read. Unfortunately dragged down by too much dialogue and flashbacks that had no bearing on the main plot
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews