Writer: Victor Gischler

Pencils: Steve Scott

Colors: Stefani Rennee

In 1996, Aliens crossed the vast sea of stars to start an invasion on our humble little rock. They outmatched us in technology, weaponry, and soldiers. Earth was ripe for the taking and there was little to stand in their way. Except of course Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum! Independence Day was one of those prototypical summer blockbusters, huge on special effects and action, small on plot and character development. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable film that was a huge money maker in the mid-nineties. Now, here we are 20 years later, and we are finally being served up a sequel that will feature most of the original cast, minus one mega omission: the aforementioned Mr. Smith. Will it be as successful as it’s predecessor? Maybe. The reason that we are here today though, dear readers, is to get a glimpse into the immediate aftermath of the victory of Earth over our would-be oppressors and to fill in the gaps leading up to the motion picture, Independence Day: Resurgence.

**Spoilers Follow Below**

 

Under Da Sea..

As the massive alien space crafts go down all over the world in the aftermath of the upload of a crippling computer virus to the mother-ship, one ship breaks away and seems to land into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. United States Army Captain Joshua Adams and Presidential Science and Technology Adviser Dr. Jessica Morgan have been dispatched to ascertain the hostile’s plan and to garner any useful intelligence on the alien technology. They have been dropped onto a US submarine via chopper to lead the mission.

Human Relations Are Never Easy

Despite knowing the mission parameters and the utmost importance of success, Capt. Adams and Dr. Morgan encounter resistance from the sub’s commander, Captain Meredith. She has already seen and lost too much in the fight against the invaders that any mission that puts her crew in harm’s way is a bad one. While she will follow orders, she does so begrudgingly and lets Adams and Morgan know exactly how she feels.  As the sub begins its dive towards the spacecraft, 2 drones are detected by sonar. Still under the impression that the alien shielding is still activated, Meredith tries to outrun the drone. Adams finally convinces her to fire torpedoes on the craft after the first drone destroys a Destroyer ship on the surface of the water. The torpedoes find their mark and obliterate the second drone.

Let’s Take A Look-see..

Captain Meredith orders a “guppie” launched, equipped with infrared cameras, to venture into the sunken alien ship to gain whatever reconnaissance possible.  However, it soon becomes clear that an incursion must be performed to accurately assess the situation. Captain Adams (whom it’s revealed suffers from a fear of water) leads a team of Marines to the space ship, but they are telepathically attacked by a crash survivor. Can the Captain and his men escape the alien threat and find the information they need to neutralize the alien threat once and for all?

Titan Comics is looking to capitalize on the popularity of the Independence Day franchise, and kudos to them for doing so. Written by Victor Gischler, we are treated to the foundation of a story that should excite the reader and build anticipation for the upcoming feature film. He introduces new characters that feel fresh and original but keep within the vibe of the original film. It is interesting to learn about other plot-lines outside of the films core, as I know I have always wondered what else happened after the victory. The artwork of Steve Scott and Stefani Rennee is well done, effectively conveying the darkness of the mission within its tones, and generating the claustrophobic feeling of a submerged submarine.

This is a limited run series that will end once the film debuts in theaters. If you are a fan of the original film and are looking forward to the sequel, I encourage you to pick this title up. It will not disappoint.

4.5 drones out of 5