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The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day
Board the starship Orville and adventure through space on these new missions set between seasons two and three of Seth MacFarlane's hit sci-fi TV show!
Executive Producer David A. Goodman writes a double feature that has Captain Ed Mercer and crew investigating an enigmatic alien device and contemplating the consequences of intervention when a primitive civilization faces an off-world threat.
In "Launch Day," when seemingly hostile Krill ships cross into Union space, the Orville intercepts. Ed learns they are en route to a planet that left the Planetary Union decades ago under mysterious circumstances. Scans have discovered a moon-sized construct above the planet, and the Krill intend a preemptive strike against the presumed weapon. But is it?
In "Heroes," Lieutenant Talla Keyali returns to a planet she surveyed as an Ensign when a quantum signature on the surface suggests significant technological advances since her last visit. Instead, she discovers a spacefaring species has subjugated the locals, transforming their once idyllic society into a grim mining operation. Stymied by the Union's hesitance to provoke hostilities, Talla must consider how far she's willing to go to help these people and the repercussions of doing so.
Collects The Orville #1: Launch Day Part 1 of 2 , The Orville #2: Launch Day Part 2 of 2 , The Orville #3: Heroes Part 1 of 2 , The Orville #4: Heroes Part 2 of 2 .
Executive Producer David A. Goodman writes a double feature that has Captain Ed Mercer and crew investigating an enigmatic alien device and contemplating the consequences of intervention when a primitive civilization faces an off-world threat.
In "Launch Day," when seemingly hostile Krill ships cross into Union space, the Orville intercepts. Ed learns they are en route to a planet that left the Planetary Union decades ago under mysterious circumstances. Scans have discovered a moon-sized construct above the planet, and the Krill intend a preemptive strike against the presumed weapon. But is it?
In "Heroes," Lieutenant Talla Keyali returns to a planet she surveyed as an Ensign when a quantum signature on the surface suggests significant technological advances since her last visit. Instead, she discovers a spacefaring species has subjugated the locals, transforming their once idyllic society into a grim mining operation. Stymied by the Union's hesitance to provoke hostilities, Talla must consider how far she's willing to go to help these people and the repercussions of doing so.
Collects The Orville #1: Launch Day Part 1 of 2 , The Orville #2: Launch Day Part 2 of 2 , The Orville #3: Heroes Part 1 of 2 , The Orville #4: Heroes Part 2 of 2 .
96 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2021
8 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
David A. Goodman
35 books60 followersDavid A. Goodman is an American writer, producer, and president of the Writers Guild of America West. He has been a writer for several television series, such as The Golden Girls, Futurama, where he was also a co-executive producer and wrote the notable Star Trek parody episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before", and Star Trek: Enterprise.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 17, 2021
Missing Star Trek: the Next Generation? Well then you should really check out The Orville. It's continuing what ST:TNG did best, but adding in more social commentary and a few jokes along the way. The two stories in this collection could very well be unaired episodes of the show. The first one is about a planet that becomes completely isolationist and xenophobic for the last 20 years to its own detriment. The second story is about a lesser advanced planet being taken advantage up by a less scrupulous, more advanced race. The art is solid. All the character likenesses are there which is all you can really ask for.
February 6, 2021
Another solid installment in the best sci-fi series that used to be on TV.
December 25, 2021
It was ok. If you want to read a story with the characters from the show that's a Death Star story with a twist, then go for it!
November 27, 2021
I’d like this better if these stories had resolutions, but they do not. Other than that, they do feel like the TV show.
February 6, 2022
As a continuation from the Second season of the show, we see the development of the Union and the Krill trying to work together but still not fully trusting each other. The first story is primarily about a Xenophobic and isolationist planet that blames outsiders for everything. They try to build a "wall" around their planet. There are obvious real world parallels they are trying to allude to. The second story is a planet of oppressed aliens being oppressed by more another group of aliens. It is the type of story where the Star Trek equivalent would be breaking the Prime directive to help. Part of it has a Zorro vibe. While the stories resolve, they end on semi-cliffhangers, but as far as the main characters are concerned, their involvement is complete. Just as with the previous installment, they artwork does a good job of portraying the characters and they are written more or less consistent with their personalities and mannerism. Once Season 3 airs, we shall see how well it all fits.
June 19, 2025
wowzers !!! loved this one <33333
4.5/
4.5/
January 19, 2021
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
When The Orville started airing it hit a time when Star Trek (and most other sci fi) was missing from TV, beating the launch of Star Trek: Discovery by a week. In the three years since we've seen a resurgence of actual Star Trek with three shows and even Discovery has finished its third season before The Orville has even started (or announced) when the third season would be. Does Orville still have a place in this time? I hope this bridge in the story is telling us so.There are two major differences between Orville and Star Trek - one is the almost-parody approach Orville takes, and the other is to provide a bit more hard-hitting storylines. Even when both Picard and Discovery have moved on to have less vanilla results from Trek of old, in this Orville comic it still manages to be better than either, without ever delving into fake 'edginess'.
This comic collection contains two individual stories, 'Launch Day' and 'Heroes'. They both have stories that are very familiar to Trekkies at large, but both also take paths (and solutions) that could never happen in Star Trek.
In 'Launch Day' I enjoyed the world building and how the story flowed. As a minus our cast seems to be just observers and have little to do; the parallel to the current state of the world is perhaps a bit too much on the nose. I do like when scifi takes on the role of a mirror to current politics, but I'd like it to bring something new to the view, which is not really present here.
The plot premise of 'Heroes' is very nice and is the stronger story of the two. I would have wished for a bit more character interaction and development and maybe a bit more layers to the plot.
Overall, these two stories are a good addition to the overall Orville universe - they feel like they could easily be two episodes in the (hopefully!) coming Season 3. Neither is especially great though - you'll enjoy reading them, but they won't make the top on your list of your favorite episodes ever.
Art is decent enough, like usually in these kinds of tie-in comics. It's not high art but won't deter you from enjoying the story in any way. Writing is good and no one acts out of character - though, we also learn almost nothing new.
Recommended for fans of the series to help bridge this long gap between seasons. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
August 30, 2021
WHERE IS SEASON THREE?!?!?!
This was another fun comic. Just like The Orville 1.5 this is for fans of the TV show and won't make much sense to people who haven't seen it (or even like it tbh). I'm really hoping Launch Day is setting up something we'll see play out in S3.
I really liked Heroes as it focused on Talla (I think I just have a thing for Xelayan women) and enjoyed the nods to other media that story had.
Like the 1.5 my main issue is this is too short! I need more!!
This was another fun comic. Just like The Orville 1.5 this is for fans of the TV show and won't make much sense to people who haven't seen it (or even like it tbh). I'm really hoping Launch Day is setting up something we'll see play out in S3.
I really liked Heroes as it focused on Talla (I think I just have a thing for Xelayan women) and enjoyed the nods to other media that story had.
Like the 1.5 my main issue is this is too short! I need more!!
November 10, 2022
“The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day” (published by Dark Horse Books, March 2021). Written by David A. Goodman, art by David Cabeza, colors by Michael Atiyeh, lettering by Richard Starkings and ComiCraft’s Jimmy Betancourt.
Dark Horse Books (a.k.a., Dark Horse Comics), has so far published three four-issue comic book mini-series (or two four-issue and two two-issue, depending on how you look at it) based on the Seth McFarlane sci-fi television series, “The Orville” (which ran on Fox for two seasons, 2017 to 2019, and a third season exclusively streaming on Hulu, June to August 2022).
Dark Horse released these “Orville” comics basically as four-issue mini-series, one per year (in 2019, 2020, and 2021), but in turn split each of those four-issue mini-series into two separate two-issue stories, and branded the comics both as “The Orville” issues #1-4, and also as “The Orville: [First story title] Part 1 of 2” and “Part 2 of 2”, followed by “The Orville: [Second story title] Part 1 of 2”, etc.
Dark Horse then released three trade paperback reprint collections, one for each four issues. The first such collection was “The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings” (2020), reprinting the 2019-2020 first four-issue mini-series, also titled “The Orville: New Beginnings” #1-2 and “The Orville: The Word of Avis” #1-2. I read and reviewed that collection in June 2022.
Next comes this one, “The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day” (2021), reprinting the 2020 second four-issue mini-series, also titled “The Orville: Launch Day” #1-2 and “The Orville: Heroes” #1-2.
Both of these stories share a common element (besides taking place between seasons two and three of the television series), and that’s that both start off with a scene showing one or more of the characters on a prior mission years ago (twenty years ago in “Launch Day” and five years ago in “Heroes”).
“Launch Day”, which I like best of the two stories here, features the crew investigating a planet that broke away from the Planetary Union twenty years ago that suddenly is showing signs of some mysterious powerful new weapon about to be launched. Captain Ed Mercer doesn’t necessarily believe that it is indeed a weapon and leads a team to seek out the truth. However, the Krill has also detected the powerful energy signature and sent eight warships across into Union space to attack the planet and destroy their “weapon”. Bortus is left in charge of the Orville with orders to stall the Krill from attacking while Mercer and company are away from the ship investigating (leading to some cool Bortus squaring off against the Krill moments).
“Heroes” starts with security officer, Talla, in a mission to a peaceful, low tech world five years ago. She is there investigating if the Union should make contact with this civilization (who physically resemble her own Xelayan species but without her species’ increased strength and resilience) to mine a valuable mineral names Dysonium. Talla has been staying with a family with a young girl named Aki. She recommends to her captain that the Union not pursue relations there, that any attempts to mine would negatively impact the native population. The story then jumps to the present (five years later) and the Orville (with Talla) is now investigating the presence of a Quantum Drive ship there. They discover that another alien species, a non Union affiliated one named the Nazh, has since arrived and enslaved the natives, using them to mine the Dysonium. Due to the precarious position the Union is in at the moment with several hostile forces threatening war (the events at the end of season two of the tv series), the crew is ordered not to interfere and to move on. Talla isn’t willing to abandon Aki, her parents, and the rest of her people to the Nazh.
Both stories are enjoyable enough although “Heroes” is a bit predictable. Right from the start of that story we see that there is a female Zorro like storybook character who it’s pretty obvious Talla will dress up as at some point in the story.
Goodman continues to write these characters well (as he should since he was a co-producer on the television series along with Seth McFarlane), and David Cabeza again captures the actors’ likenesses perfectly. Yes, there is a bit of a “Photoshop” like feel at times, the likenesses are so spot on. But the appeal of “The Orville” is often about the interactions of the lead characters combined with standard “Star Trek: The Next Generation” type plot set-ups (usually with a twist at the end) and Cabeza’s art works perfectly for these types of stories.
Since I liked “Launch Day” a bit more than I did “Heroes”, I ended up giving the combined trade paperback collection a three out of five stars on GoodReads.
The third (and perhaps final) trade paperback is “The Orville Season 2.5: Digressions” (March 2022), reprinting the 2021 four-issue mini-series also titled “The Orville: Digressions” #1-2 and “The Orville: Artifacts” #1-2. I will be reading and reviewing that third trade paperback collection once my local public library can get a copy.
There is also a more expensive “The Orville: Library Edition” hardcover collection just recently released (I believe) that is an omnibus of all three of the trade paperbacks. (So, containing all of the Dark Horse “Orville” stories in one volume.)
Dark Horse Books (a.k.a., Dark Horse Comics), has so far published three four-issue comic book mini-series (or two four-issue and two two-issue, depending on how you look at it) based on the Seth McFarlane sci-fi television series, “The Orville” (which ran on Fox for two seasons, 2017 to 2019, and a third season exclusively streaming on Hulu, June to August 2022).
Dark Horse released these “Orville” comics basically as four-issue mini-series, one per year (in 2019, 2020, and 2021), but in turn split each of those four-issue mini-series into two separate two-issue stories, and branded the comics both as “The Orville” issues #1-4, and also as “The Orville: [First story title] Part 1 of 2” and “Part 2 of 2”, followed by “The Orville: [Second story title] Part 1 of 2”, etc.
Dark Horse then released three trade paperback reprint collections, one for each four issues. The first such collection was “The Orville Season 1.5: New Beginnings” (2020), reprinting the 2019-2020 first four-issue mini-series, also titled “The Orville: New Beginnings” #1-2 and “The Orville: The Word of Avis” #1-2. I read and reviewed that collection in June 2022.
Next comes this one, “The Orville Season 2.5: Launch Day” (2021), reprinting the 2020 second four-issue mini-series, also titled “The Orville: Launch Day” #1-2 and “The Orville: Heroes” #1-2.
Both of these stories share a common element (besides taking place between seasons two and three of the television series), and that’s that both start off with a scene showing one or more of the characters on a prior mission years ago (twenty years ago in “Launch Day” and five years ago in “Heroes”).
“Launch Day”, which I like best of the two stories here, features the crew investigating a planet that broke away from the Planetary Union twenty years ago that suddenly is showing signs of some mysterious powerful new weapon about to be launched. Captain Ed Mercer doesn’t necessarily believe that it is indeed a weapon and leads a team to seek out the truth. However, the Krill has also detected the powerful energy signature and sent eight warships across into Union space to attack the planet and destroy their “weapon”. Bortus is left in charge of the Orville with orders to stall the Krill from attacking while Mercer and company are away from the ship investigating (leading to some cool Bortus squaring off against the Krill moments).
“Heroes” starts with security officer, Talla, in a mission to a peaceful, low tech world five years ago. She is there investigating if the Union should make contact with this civilization (who physically resemble her own Xelayan species but without her species’ increased strength and resilience) to mine a valuable mineral names Dysonium. Talla has been staying with a family with a young girl named Aki. She recommends to her captain that the Union not pursue relations there, that any attempts to mine would negatively impact the native population. The story then jumps to the present (five years later) and the Orville (with Talla) is now investigating the presence of a Quantum Drive ship there. They discover that another alien species, a non Union affiliated one named the Nazh, has since arrived and enslaved the natives, using them to mine the Dysonium. Due to the precarious position the Union is in at the moment with several hostile forces threatening war (the events at the end of season two of the tv series), the crew is ordered not to interfere and to move on. Talla isn’t willing to abandon Aki, her parents, and the rest of her people to the Nazh.
Both stories are enjoyable enough although “Heroes” is a bit predictable. Right from the start of that story we see that there is a female Zorro like storybook character who it’s pretty obvious Talla will dress up as at some point in the story.
Goodman continues to write these characters well (as he should since he was a co-producer on the television series along with Seth McFarlane), and David Cabeza again captures the actors’ likenesses perfectly. Yes, there is a bit of a “Photoshop” like feel at times, the likenesses are so spot on. But the appeal of “The Orville” is often about the interactions of the lead characters combined with standard “Star Trek: The Next Generation” type plot set-ups (usually with a twist at the end) and Cabeza’s art works perfectly for these types of stories.
Since I liked “Launch Day” a bit more than I did “Heroes”, I ended up giving the combined trade paperback collection a three out of five stars on GoodReads.
The third (and perhaps final) trade paperback is “The Orville Season 2.5: Digressions” (March 2022), reprinting the 2021 four-issue mini-series also titled “The Orville: Digressions” #1-2 and “The Orville: Artifacts” #1-2. I will be reading and reviewing that third trade paperback collection once my local public library can get a copy.
There is also a more expensive “The Orville: Library Edition” hardcover collection just recently released (I believe) that is an omnibus of all three of the trade paperbacks. (So, containing all of the Dark Horse “Orville” stories in one volume.)
February 4, 2021
*I received this book as an eARC from Dark Horse Books via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I really enjoyed the graphic novel taking place between the first two seasons and this book delivers the same thing except between season two and the upcoming season. This book collects two different stories that each feel like an episode of the series on their own.
The first story is Launch Day. There's good pacing, funny dialogue, and modern themes showcased in an interesting way. A lot of fun. The society in this story takes isolationism to a whole new level.
The second story is Heroes. It features a world being taken advantage of. A folk hero inspires change with the help of some of the Orville crew. There are some fun vigilante and superhero themes.
I give this book a 4.5/5. Both stories feel just like fully fledged episodes. This book really gets me excited for the next season of this show.
I really enjoyed the graphic novel taking place between the first two seasons and this book delivers the same thing except between season two and the upcoming season. This book collects two different stories that each feel like an episode of the series on their own.
The first story is Launch Day. There's good pacing, funny dialogue, and modern themes showcased in an interesting way. A lot of fun. The society in this story takes isolationism to a whole new level.
The second story is Heroes. It features a world being taken advantage of. A folk hero inspires change with the help of some of the Orville crew. There are some fun vigilante and superhero themes.
I give this book a 4.5/5. Both stories feel just like fully fledged episodes. This book really gets me excited for the next season of this show.
September 1, 2020
The Orville: Launch Day is very much a niche comic. It's perfect for those who enjoy the Orville TV show, as this comic is set in between the second season and the upcoming third season. It's also a good choice for fans of the episodic stories told in the classic Star Trek and Next Generation series. For everyone who doesn't fit into those two categories, I'd recommend browsing this issue before you commit to purchasing.
Check out the full review by Joe Bones: https://www.joe-bones.net/articles/th...
Advance copy provided by Dark Horse Comics. Reviewed for Outright Geekery.
Check out the full review by Joe Bones: https://www.joe-bones.net/articles/th...
Advance copy provided by Dark Horse Comics. Reviewed for Outright Geekery.
March 4, 2022
Another satisfying, thrilling & humorous continuation of the Orville, bridging the gap between season 2 and season 3, which can’t come soon enough.
Being canon & adding new details to the characters we are not given in the show, I would consider it essential reading for Orville fans.
‘Launch Day’ is a great story with a fascinating planet set up, but it’s ending was far too easy & riddled with deus ex machinas. ‘Heroes’, however, was a brilliant adventure from start to finish, giving a great arc to Talla.
All in all, a fun read to fill the void that is not having this amazing ensemble of characters around for so long.
Being canon & adding new details to the characters we are not given in the show, I would consider it essential reading for Orville fans.
‘Launch Day’ is a great story with a fascinating planet set up, but it’s ending was far too easy & riddled with deus ex machinas. ‘Heroes’, however, was a brilliant adventure from start to finish, giving a great arc to Talla.
All in all, a fun read to fill the void that is not having this amazing ensemble of characters around for so long.
May 25, 2022
I could definitely see these two stories as two episodes of the television series, set between seasons 2 and 3. I preferred the writing in this volume compared to 1.5. The art, which was already good in 1.5, is less stiff and more subtle. Season 3 hasn't come out yet so we won't know for a while if some of the loose threads of this volume will be addressed there.
If you aren't already familiar with the television show, this probably isn't the best way to introduce the universe and characters of The Orville to you. I'd suggest you start with the show, and read the comics between seasons.
If you aren't already familiar with the television show, this probably isn't the best way to introduce the universe and characters of The Orville to you. I'd suggest you start with the show, and read the comics between seasons.
December 5, 2020
I did not expect a lot of these Orville comics.
This leaves me pleasantly surprised.
They capture the voice and atmosphere of the Orville perfectly (down to Gordon's jokes) and the artwork is great.
Compared to some of the Star Trek comics out there, where the stories are all over the place and the art makes you wonder who the characters are- these comics are very well done and could have been actual episodes.
Recommended.
This leaves me pleasantly surprised.
They capture the voice and atmosphere of the Orville perfectly (down to Gordon's jokes) and the artwork is great.
Compared to some of the Star Trek comics out there, where the stories are all over the place and the art makes you wonder who the characters are- these comics are very well done and could have been actual episodes.
Recommended.
August 16, 2023
(3,9 of 5 for this good Orville stuff in generic comics)
Again, two short stories in sub 100 page comics. Good stories, the classic trope about visiting the alien civilised planet and wating to help. First is centered about Ted and Kelly characters, second is Talla's. Nice, decent stories from Orville universe with generic art and coloring.
April 21, 2021
Exactly as advertised. It's got the pacing and structure of 2 episodes of the Orville. If that's what you want, you'll get it. It's a seamless flow between the book and the show. Perfectly serviceable.
I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy any 2 episodes of the show.
Good art as well.
I enjoyed it as much as I enjoy any 2 episodes of the show.
Good art as well.
June 21, 2022
I’m all caught up on the Orville episodes and saw these comics. This had two two part stories. They were ok but it didn’t leave me excited for more of them, think I’ll just stick with the show. I hope they bring back a bit more humour in the rest of season 3.
July 11, 2022
These comics are so good. I loved the Talla-centric story.
August 7, 2022
Nothing groundbreaking or amazing, just 2 enjoyable short stories if you're an Orville/Trek/Sci-Fi fan. Could have easily be turned into an episode in the show. I liked it. No happy endings.
3/5 Stars
3/5 Stars
September 13, 2022
This book is a great addition to the Orville universe. It is not require reading to appreciate the series but it does fill in some background details while adding two additional and authentic stories to the mix.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews