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Ender's Saga (Graphic Novels)
Ender's Shadow: Command School
As the authorities as the Battle School prepare to advance Ender Wiggin to Command School, they do everything they can to push his comrade Bean to his limits to see if he too can make it to Command School.
120 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2010
4 people are currently reading
1651 people want to read
About the author
Mike Carey
1,261 books2,968 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.
Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.
Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.
Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.
Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.
Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 23, 2013
This tale focuses on one of Ender's eventual lieutenants, Bean, who grows up in the slums and is eventually singled out for his brilliant mind at an incredibly young age. Bean takes a non traditional approach to dealing with the slums as well as Battle School.
It's a nice angle on Bean which wasn't covered in the first Orson Scott Card novel. The artwork is grittier especially in the slum sections of the tale.
The script was by Mike Carey with a number of artists including Sebastian Fiumana and Giulia Brusco. Orson Scott Card was the Creative and Executive Director for this project.
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B plus to A minus; STORY/PLOTTING: B; ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B; BEAN FOCUS: B plus; WHEN READ: early August 2012; OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus.
It's a nice angle on Bean which wasn't covered in the first Orson Scott Card novel. The artwork is grittier especially in the slum sections of the tale.
The script was by Mike Carey with a number of artists including Sebastian Fiumana and Giulia Brusco. Orson Scott Card was the Creative and Executive Director for this project.
CHARACTERS/DIALOGUE: B plus to A minus; STORY/PLOTTING: B; ARTWORK PRESENTATION: B; BEAN FOCUS: B plus; WHEN READ: early August 2012; OVERALL GRADE: B to B plus.
April 13, 2014
Jonathan Dorsey
Period 4
4/13/14
Review of Ender’s Shadow: Command School
The graphic novel Ender’s Shadow: Command School (written by Orson Scott Card) is a science fiction graphic novel taking place in the near future, perhaps 100 years from now. In this society, Earth was attacked by aliens called “Formics” and humans barely managed to repel their attacks and defend Earth. In order to stop another invasion, the government formed “battle schools” that taught gifted kids how to strategize and fight. Ender’s Shadow takes place partially in battle school and partially in the next step up to battle school, or command school, focusing the story around an extremely intelligent kid named Bean. As the title suggests, Bean is in “Ender’s shadow,” as Ender is the older and more famous prodigy that battle school produced. This novel revolves around the conflict as Bean tries to adapt to his inferior role and learn to fight the Formics alongside Ender.
Ender’s Shadow: Command School is an unique novel that is noteworthy for being the sequel to the infamous Ender’s Game because Ender’s Shadow follows the same plot as its predecessor, only from a different point of view.
Ender’s Shadow: Command School withholds the good reputation that Ender’s Game set in place. Ender’s Game set the standard quite high, and its sequel was performed to par. For example, Ender’s Shadow elaborates on the conflict that its predecessor first put into place. Towards the beginning of the novel, when Bean is originally assigned to Ender’s army, it reads, “ ‘Knowing what to do with the soldiers in your command is easy. It’s getting them to do it that’s hard. Why should any soldier want to follow a little pinprick like you?’” This was Ender’s response to Bean asking to command a toon of soldiers in Ender’s army. Ender and Bean are the two smartest students in battle school, and both were assigned to the same army. However, despite his younger age, Bean is the smarter student, but Ender is the better commander. Each has conflicting ideas about what course of action is right, yet Ender always comes out on top due to his favor among the other students. In this case, Ender embarrassed Bean in front of their whole army in order to maintain control over the little rebel that was Bean. Also, Ender’s Shadow has the breathtaking plot twists that its predecessor had, such as when we find out that the simulations command school runs weren’t actually simulations, but real-time fighting. Bean realizes this towards the end of the novel when he says, “ ‘You gave yourself away, Colonel. When the ships respond to our orders in the simulator. There’s no time lag.’ ” This whole time, Ender’s army thought they were just preparing for the war when in reality they were fighting the Formics with real soldiers, light years away. However, Bean is the only student who realized this at the time.
Just as Ender’s Shadow conform to the intricate plot Ender’s Game set in place, so does it withhold the standard of art that Ender’s Game first showed. For example, when Bean is in command school in Ender’s army once again, they have to run simulations to prepare themselves for the eventual war with the Formics. These simulations depict possible battles that could occur with the Formics. During one of these simulations, the artists use a unique style of drawing that I have rarely seen before in graphic novels. In order to represent the tight situations that the army is in, they draw panels inside of panels, with frames of dark tones to convey the stressful situation. The simulation itself shows a grid superimposed onto a purple and black background designed to represent outer space. As the novel puts it, “ ‘The simulators allow you to deploy virtual fleets by means of verbal commands or text imput. The computers will enact any maneuvers you ask for.’ ”Each student in the army has a holographic screen from which they command their ”virtual” troops). In order to depict such a high tech area, the artists also use complicated architecture that shows layers upon layers of purple control floors, from which the students operate. The command school itself is located on an asteroid called Eros. Inside Eros is a network of alien architecture (as is used to be a Formic base).
In conclusion, I do recommend that you read this book because the combination of intricate plot twists and artistic elements make this graphic novel unlike any other I have read before.
**Ender’s Shadow: Command School does not have page numbers**
Period 4
4/13/14
Review of Ender’s Shadow: Command School
The graphic novel Ender’s Shadow: Command School (written by Orson Scott Card) is a science fiction graphic novel taking place in the near future, perhaps 100 years from now. In this society, Earth was attacked by aliens called “Formics” and humans barely managed to repel their attacks and defend Earth. In order to stop another invasion, the government formed “battle schools” that taught gifted kids how to strategize and fight. Ender’s Shadow takes place partially in battle school and partially in the next step up to battle school, or command school, focusing the story around an extremely intelligent kid named Bean. As the title suggests, Bean is in “Ender’s shadow,” as Ender is the older and more famous prodigy that battle school produced. This novel revolves around the conflict as Bean tries to adapt to his inferior role and learn to fight the Formics alongside Ender.
Ender’s Shadow: Command School is an unique novel that is noteworthy for being the sequel to the infamous Ender’s Game because Ender’s Shadow follows the same plot as its predecessor, only from a different point of view.
Ender’s Shadow: Command School withholds the good reputation that Ender’s Game set in place. Ender’s Game set the standard quite high, and its sequel was performed to par. For example, Ender’s Shadow elaborates on the conflict that its predecessor first put into place. Towards the beginning of the novel, when Bean is originally assigned to Ender’s army, it reads, “ ‘Knowing what to do with the soldiers in your command is easy. It’s getting them to do it that’s hard. Why should any soldier want to follow a little pinprick like you?’” This was Ender’s response to Bean asking to command a toon of soldiers in Ender’s army. Ender and Bean are the two smartest students in battle school, and both were assigned to the same army. However, despite his younger age, Bean is the smarter student, but Ender is the better commander. Each has conflicting ideas about what course of action is right, yet Ender always comes out on top due to his favor among the other students. In this case, Ender embarrassed Bean in front of their whole army in order to maintain control over the little rebel that was Bean. Also, Ender’s Shadow has the breathtaking plot twists that its predecessor had, such as when we find out that the simulations command school runs weren’t actually simulations, but real-time fighting. Bean realizes this towards the end of the novel when he says, “ ‘You gave yourself away, Colonel. When the ships respond to our orders in the simulator. There’s no time lag.’ ” This whole time, Ender’s army thought they were just preparing for the war when in reality they were fighting the Formics with real soldiers, light years away. However, Bean is the only student who realized this at the time.
Just as Ender’s Shadow conform to the intricate plot Ender’s Game set in place, so does it withhold the standard of art that Ender’s Game first showed. For example, when Bean is in command school in Ender’s army once again, they have to run simulations to prepare themselves for the eventual war with the Formics. These simulations depict possible battles that could occur with the Formics. During one of these simulations, the artists use a unique style of drawing that I have rarely seen before in graphic novels. In order to represent the tight situations that the army is in, they draw panels inside of panels, with frames of dark tones to convey the stressful situation. The simulation itself shows a grid superimposed onto a purple and black background designed to represent outer space. As the novel puts it, “ ‘The simulators allow you to deploy virtual fleets by means of verbal commands or text imput. The computers will enact any maneuvers you ask for.’ ”Each student in the army has a holographic screen from which they command their ”virtual” troops). In order to depict such a high tech area, the artists also use complicated architecture that shows layers upon layers of purple control floors, from which the students operate. The command school itself is located on an asteroid called Eros. Inside Eros is a network of alien architecture (as is used to be a Formic base).
In conclusion, I do recommend that you read this book because the combination of intricate plot twists and artistic elements make this graphic novel unlike any other I have read before.
**Ender’s Shadow: Command School does not have page numbers**
October 30, 2019
Bean's origins are clarified, and his fate is decided. Right alongside the fate of two sentient species...
The juxtaposition of Bean and Ender finally comes to full fruition in this installment. And it becomes more obvious that while Bean actually possesses the superior intellect and deductive capacity, Ender has gotten a firmer grasp on the kind of social skills and charisma needed in an effective leader. Though Bean does remain in Ender's proverbial shadow, some crucial parts of him grow to fit that largely uncredited support position. And that character growth is every bit as compelling as Ender's had been in his side of the overarching story.
I do kind of question the subtitle: Command School--given less than half of it actually involved the command school. >.> The most critical plot points were set up or tied up (literally!) before that transition was made by all pertinent characters. But I suppose they had to call it something.
Personally, I loved this ending. Ender's ending was bittersweet at best--heartrending-yet-fitting overall. But Bean's was deeply satisfying.
The juxtaposition of Bean and Ender finally comes to full fruition in this installment. And it becomes more obvious that while Bean actually possesses the superior intellect and deductive capacity, Ender has gotten a firmer grasp on the kind of social skills and charisma needed in an effective leader. Though Bean does remain in Ender's proverbial shadow, some crucial parts of him grow to fit that largely uncredited support position. And that character growth is every bit as compelling as Ender's had been in his side of the overarching story.
I do kind of question the subtitle: Command School--given less than half of it actually involved the command school. >.> The most critical plot points were set up or tied up (literally!) before that transition was made by all pertinent characters. But I suppose they had to call it something.
Personally, I loved this ending. Ender's ending was bittersweet at best--heartrending-yet-fitting overall. But Bean's was deeply satisfying.
September 6, 2017
The events seen in Ender's Command School series are seen with focus on Bean, the one who is considered Ender's alternative, and the teacher's thoughts and teaching methods. This offers brand new perspectives on the story and more insight into what determined the teacher's to act the way they do.
Bean goes through many hardships and challenges while in Ender's Dragon Army, but each one improves him as a soldier and then a leader. The sister who cared for him finds that he has a brother in battle school. They were already getting along very well. Achilles gets assigned to Bean's army and still holds a grudge against Bean. Bean forces him to confess to his murders before being sent to command school.
More challenges await in command school, but the virtual reunion with Ender as their leader raises their spirits.
Bean goes through many hardships and challenges while in Ender's Dragon Army, but each one improves him as a soldier and then a leader. The sister who cared for him finds that he has a brother in battle school. They were already getting along very well. Achilles gets assigned to Bean's army and still holds a grudge against Bean. Bean forces him to confess to his murders before being sent to command school.
More challenges await in command school, but the virtual reunion with Ender as their leader raises their spirits.
January 9, 2018
I really love this graphic novel, The art and the story made this awesome book come alive, This is a Good Read. P.S. If you have not ever read a comic book This entire "enderverse" series would be a great place to try one. Books are great but sometimes comics are fun too, You see in a glance at a picture what may take the author pages to describe, Comic move right in to the story. They are the next best thing to seeing your favorite books on the big screen. Yes some stuff gets edited out but really if it was all the same we would not be addicted to reading the book. Give your self a treat check out a Graphic novel every now and then.
June 18, 2018
This book is excelent,wonderfull and engaging
January 22, 2020
Interesting but there's only one Ender.
November 11, 2021
The art is sooo much better than in Ender's Game: Battle School.
January 29, 2024
"Oh my son, Absalom. My son, my son, Absalom. Would God I would die for thee. My sons."
Now launch.
Now launch.
October 15, 2017
This is the graphic novel adaptation of a book that tells a story that's parallel to the second half of Ender's Game (a novel) or Ender's Game, Volume 2: Command School (a graphic novel). It is told from the perspective of one of Ender's lieutenants, Bean.
And because of the way that this book (and the one that came before it, Ender's Shadow: Battle School) casts light to certain aspects of the "main" story of Ender, I would suggest you not read these Shadow-books before reading the complete story arc of Ender's Game (a book) or both Ender's Game, Volume 1: Battle School and Ender's Game, Volume 2: Command School (graphic novels).
Also, because it is hard to think of these two books as separate stories, rather than parts of a bigger story, I'll write the same thing for both of the books. And unlike Ender's Game, I haven't read the Ender's Shadow novel(s) and therefore have nothing to compare the stories with, other than that of Ender's Game itself.
Well, then, to the actual review. I liked to read the story from another perspective,
I also liked to know more about Bean's past and how he got to the Battle School.
Now, the reveal in Command School of what Bean realises before anyone else would work better if it hadn't been "spoiled" already by having read the Ender's Game, but it is still an interesting read and
In any case, if you like the Ender universe, this is definitely worth reading. Just not before completing the Ender's game first.
And because of the way that this book (and the one that came before it, Ender's Shadow: Battle School) casts light to certain aspects of the "main" story of Ender, I would suggest you not read these Shadow-books before reading the complete story arc of Ender's Game (a book) or both Ender's Game, Volume 1: Battle School and Ender's Game, Volume 2: Command School (graphic novels).
Also, because it is hard to think of these two books as separate stories, rather than parts of a bigger story, I'll write the same thing for both of the books. And unlike Ender's Game, I haven't read the Ender's Shadow novel(s) and therefore have nothing to compare the stories with, other than that of Ender's Game itself.
Well, then, to the actual review. I liked to read the story from another perspective,
I also liked to know more about Bean's past and how he got to the Battle School.
Now, the reveal in Command School of what Bean realises before anyone else would work better if it hadn't been "spoiled" already by having read the Ender's Game, but it is still an interesting read and
In any case, if you like the Ender universe, this is definitely worth reading. Just not before completing the Ender's game first.
May 10, 2020
***** Must Read
**** Excellent
*** Good
** At Your Own Risk
* I’ve surely missed the point here
**** Excellent
*** Good
** At Your Own Risk
* I’ve surely missed the point here
August 29, 2014
another great installment in this series - i really can't wait to get my hands on the next one. i do wonder if the writers/artists will be able to pull it off since what is to come isn't as exciting as what happened in battle and command school.
since i read this right after reading 'ender's game: command school', i noticed immediately that the artwork was grittier, which translates well with the gist of the story. bean's story has a rawness to it because of his background; he is brilliant, but he has much to prove because he is so small and it takes a while for people to truly respect him. ender's game is more about action and loneliness while bean's story has a horror to it, especially when it comes to achilles and his days in rotterdam. i also have an added level of respect for bean because he doesn't spill the beans (no pun intended) about the game/war being real to the other commanders - he's only delaying the inevitable, but at least while they're battling, they don't have it on their consciences like he does.
i didn't remember a lot that happened with sister carlotta and figuring out that he was nikolai's brother, but i loved reading it in this format. when the book comes to a close i really do want a happy ending for bean and the delphiki family, even though i know there's more drama that will ensue.
since i read this right after reading 'ender's game: command school', i noticed immediately that the artwork was grittier, which translates well with the gist of the story. bean's story has a rawness to it because of his background; he is brilliant, but he has much to prove because he is so small and it takes a while for people to truly respect him. ender's game is more about action and loneliness while bean's story has a horror to it, especially when it comes to achilles and his days in rotterdam. i also have an added level of respect for bean because he doesn't spill the beans (no pun intended) about the game/war being real to the other commanders - he's only delaying the inevitable, but at least while they're battling, they don't have it on their consciences like he does.
i didn't remember a lot that happened with sister carlotta and figuring out that he was nikolai's brother, but i loved reading it in this format. when the book comes to a close i really do want a happy ending for bean and the delphiki family, even though i know there's more drama that will ensue.
September 17, 2012
Another solid installment. There were a few nice connections between this comic and the Ender's Game comics, but there were also a few elements of the plot that went underdeveloped. That's my major ding.
I really enjoyed the end of this book, and hope that Marvel decides to pursue the rest of the Shadow series. The story arch would lend itself to a graphic novel adaptation. I'd definitely pick up any additional ones that are created.
***** Just remember if you read this without reading the book that it models the storyline (containing the second half) and it is therefore a short, picture-laden spoiler!
I really enjoyed the end of this book, and hope that Marvel decides to pursue the rest of the Shadow series. The story arch would lend itself to a graphic novel adaptation. I'd definitely pick up any additional ones that are created.
***** Just remember if you read this without reading the book that it models the storyline (containing the second half) and it is therefore a short, picture-laden spoiler!
June 27, 2014
I read this because we started watching Ender's Game while at Kelly & Matt's. We didn't finish the movie but I liked what I saw. While perusing some audio books at the library for my car trip to SC I found this and thought it might be good. I started the trip with a romance, couldn't stand it, and then started the audio for this one and it was great. They had a cast of voices and each person who read the book was fantastic. It really passed the time quickly as I drove. Once I got home I continued reading on my e-book (which Mary had just given me, coincidentally, with a bunch of other e-books). I liked this book, and actually think I liked it better as audio than to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2013
That was fun! Ender's Shadow might be my favourite book of the two series, and it was neat to see it recreated in graphic novel format.
That said, I'm not sure this second volume translates as well as the first,
Ender's Shadow: Battle School. Too many characters, too many plot threads, and where it was still easy to follow in volume 1, I'm not convinced that this one would be clear to someone who hadn't already read the novel(s).
That said, I'm not sure this second volume translates as well as the first,
Ender's Shadow: Battle School. Too many characters, too many plot threads, and where it was still easy to follow in volume 1, I'm not convinced that this one would be clear to someone who hadn't already read the novel(s).
January 21, 2016
Still an interesting visual interpretation of the book. Not perfectly happy with how they recreated the battles, but it works I suppose. Still nice how they made sure to include a lot of dialog from the original book.
I did like the art a bit more now compared to Battle School even though it was the same artist. The representation of Ender here was much closer to how I imagined him compared to Ender's Game Battle School and Command School.
I did like the art a bit more now compared to Battle School even though it was the same artist. The representation of Ender here was much closer to how I imagined him compared to Ender's Game Battle School and Command School.
June 24, 2010
Oops - I thought this was a different book until I was almost finished. I meant to read "Ender's Game: Command School", which is from Ender's perspective. I didn't notice this was Ender's Shadow, which is from Bean's perspective.
April 23, 2012
Best comic of the series, thus far. For the fist time, the addition of art really added to the story as Fiumara's beautifully portrayed the 'simulator' in Command School. Actually seeing what Card had in mind while writing about Command School was certainly a treat!
February 6, 2015
A fitting conclusion to the complementary book Ender's Shadow. The art and style of the characters was immersive and enjoyable. The developing relationships between the main characters is also great.
Want to read
May 12, 2015A point of view from one of Ender's good friends, Bean details how Ender choose strategy and action not based on the size of his own troops but on where the enemy is located. In the second edition to the Ender's Game series Orson Scott Card does not let us down.
April 15, 2015
I personally loved Bean ever since Ender's Game. And this book really, "grows" the character, to where in the first book, you really didn't think of him as important as he really is. But, because of this book, it shows the reader of how important this little boy is.
February 1, 2010
Pretty awesome graphic novel of one of my favorite Sci Fi series.
March 7, 2010
Read as individual issues.
May 22, 2010
Wasn't as exciting as Ender's Game: Command School, but I did still like it. The style of the shadow ones is easier to understand than the game ones too.
May 5, 2010
More of a companion or supplement, this work would be almost incomprehensible to anyone not already familiar with the Ender-verse.
August 17, 2010
this volume is defiantly the best of the graphic novel adaptations.
December 28, 2011
Very faithful graphic novel that managed to capture the mood of the book.
February 19, 2012
Another fine graphic novel adaptation in the Ender Saga - though mostly familiar ground, Bean's perspective of events gives it enough freshness that it's like a brand new story.
November 20, 2012
See my review of Ender's Shadow: Battle School. Same applies here.
March 3, 2013
I love this book and my favorite part is when they kidnap petra and she breaks out ::)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews