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Mass Effect: Foundation Volume 1
(Mass Effect Graphic Novels #5)
by
The first volume of Mass Effect 2 and 3 lead writer Mac Walters's gripping series Foundation, set during the events of BioWare's smash hit science fiction trilogy! Introducing Rasa, a mysterious agent working behind the scenes for the Illusive Man and his human-survivalist paramilitary group, Cerberus! First, learn how she began her life as a covert operative - then, follo
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Paperback, 96 pages
Published
February 18th 2014
by Dark Horse
(first published July 17th 2013)
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Start your review of Mass Effect: Foundation Volume 1

Just...bad. Someone else mentioned the art was interpretative and that’s really the only word I could use to describe it. The composition of the transition sequences just wasn’t good - in fact, it wasn’t even there. I have to admit I’m not well versed in comics so maybe this is what you get for your money, but more than a few times I felt like I’d been given about half the words in a sentence and was told to repeat back what it meant. I just couldn’t. The hard part now will be to decide if I sho
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ARC provide by Dark Horse via NetGalley for an honest review. The illustrations were amazing. Really easy to read. I'm would have kept going if it hadn't ended. Looking forward to the next chapter in the story.I think Kaidan has a destiny he's not aware of yet. Can't wait to find out if he's able to do more with his abilities and if his father knows what's in store for him.
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Mass Effect is the videogame that made me fall in love with games in general and the first RPG that I played start to finish so it will always have a special place in my heart. This volume might appeal to fans of the series just because it gives some background on some beloved characters but overall it's not particularly impressive.
Foundation Volume 1 gives us back stories on Urdnot Wrex, Ashley Williams and Kaiden Alenko, all tied together via the viewpoint of a Cerberus agent named Rasa. Rasa ...more
Foundation Volume 1 gives us back stories on Urdnot Wrex, Ashley Williams and Kaiden Alenko, all tied together via the viewpoint of a Cerberus agent named Rasa. Rasa ...more

Much like the previous Homeworlds series, Mass Effect Foundation serves as a look into the lives of characters prior to joining Commander Shepard in the games. Taking place either mere minutes before their introduction or even years before they were ever encountered, the comic gives some further insight into the lives of Wrex, Ashley, Kaiden and one or two surprise characters. While ultimately treated as an isolated episode or brief moment in the spotlight, every story is connected by an ongoing
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Finished this one a few days ago but forgot to mark it. The comics are generally the weaker aspects of the Mass Effect universe, the games and the books are normally the bench mark with the comics taking a backseat. The issue is normally the isolated story arcs and the one note characters, the art isn't a high standard either. I'm a huge fan of the series and I enjoyed this book but it isn't flawless, just adequate to fill the void left by Bioware.
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A little disappointing! So this series is written by some of the writers from the second and third game; but for the most part this was pretty boring! There are some brief cameos from some of the companion characters from the games along with some short stories about them, I liked that aspect, but for the most part the story focuses on other random boring characters I didn't care about. I also didn't really care for the artwork too much.
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I probably couldn't appreciate this book as much since I haven't had the opportunity to play Mass Effect, about which I've heard so many good things. That's probably why I can't seem to get attached to any of the characters in Foundation. Despite the excellent art, I keep getting people mixed up, and I went away slightly confused with a headache.
But I sure as hell appreciated the beginning. It was so well done it took me by surprise, and probably will anyone not familiar with the Mass Effect Un ...more
But I sure as hell appreciated the beginning. It was so well done it took me by surprise, and probably will anyone not familiar with the Mass Effect Un ...more

I should be asleep but I was hoping that if I finished the book I would understand what was going on. This is not the case. There's some science fiction action involving sinister things and aliens and telekinesis.
None of it really means anything and I don't know who anyone is.
I've never played the game. Pretty sure this is a game. ...more
None of it really means anything and I don't know who anyone is.
I've never played the game. Pretty sure this is a game. ...more

Why does this exist? The comic provides a look into the backstory of four Mass Effect characters, three teammate characters, Kaiden, Ashley, Wrex, and Rasa (the last of which is only a character from a DLC in the third game). Rasa’s arc is the only one with a little depth, and the other arcs are just her going through Saturday Cartoon like cameos with the other more notable characters going through minor plot points right before or during the first Mass Effect game.
Wrex’s is the only one that ...more
Wrex’s is the only one that ...more

A loosely connected series of stories, covering a number of companions from the Mass Effect games as The Illusive Man’s agents try to collect more information of the crew of the Normandy.
I have been deep into Mass Effect 3 recently (I know I’m a few years late here) and quite enjoyed the first two games in the series. Hoping for a little more from this interesting universe I decided to give this book a go, sadly it didn’t deliver at all.
While none of the stories really captured me, they were bad ...more
I have been deep into Mass Effect 3 recently (I know I’m a few years late here) and quite enjoyed the first two games in the series. Hoping for a little more from this interesting universe I decided to give this book a go, sadly it didn’t deliver at all.
While none of the stories really captured me, they were bad ...more

It's not an abomination, but it's not good either. It doesn't look like Mass Effect and it doesn't feel like Mass Effect and the stories do nothing to add dimension to the characters you met in the games. The covers are beautiful, but the interior art is muddled.
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Answered questions I didn't know I had
This is a collection of stories that happen before (or during) the events of the first Mass Effect game. The story about Ashley Williams answers questions that I didn't know I had until the details were fleshed out. ...more
This is a collection of stories that happen before (or during) the events of the first Mass Effect game. The story about Ashley Williams answers questions that I didn't know I had until the details were fleshed out. ...more

Lets you see the back story to some of the characters. So, if you love Mass Effect, it's an automatic 5 star.
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One of the better pieces of side content for the ME games, but I still can't get over how ugly the art is.
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The first volume of "Mass Effect: Foundation" is unfortunately a disappointment. Its soulless and feels more like exploitation of the brand than a "real" effort in expanding the universe and producing a meaningful story.
The stories follow Rasa, a "Cerberus" operative who, to avoid spoilers, you may also know from the "Citadel" DLC from "Mass Effect 3". The first story is sort of an "origin" of Rasa, and while somewhat interesting, it falls a bit flat because the plot is predictable and the story ...more
The stories follow Rasa, a "Cerberus" operative who, to avoid spoilers, you may also know from the "Citadel" DLC from "Mass Effect 3". The first story is sort of an "origin" of Rasa, and while somewhat interesting, it falls a bit flat because the plot is predictable and the story ...more

This review is courtesy of an Advance Review Copy through the good folks at NetGalley.
While I'm not usually a reader of tie-in comics, preferring to read prose novels from existing properties instead, I did enjoy Foundation. It feels almost like an anthology title linked by the character of Rasa, and seeing favourite characters from the game turn up was good.
PROS:
The twist at the end of the book's first chapter is definitely unexpected, helped along by the breakneck pace the issue moves with. Ea ...more
While I'm not usually a reader of tie-in comics, preferring to read prose novels from existing properties instead, I did enjoy Foundation. It feels almost like an anthology title linked by the character of Rasa, and seeing favourite characters from the game turn up was good.
PROS:
The twist at the end of the book's first chapter is definitely unexpected, helped along by the breakneck pace the issue moves with. Ea ...more

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my book blog, Rinn Reads.
If you know me, you know the Mass Effect series of video games is one of my favourite things. You may also know that I’ve been slowly working my way through all related books and graphic novels, and so far have been sadly disappointed. So it is with great delight that I proclaim this particular volume my favourite Mass Effect related book so far!
This is, in a similar way to Mass ...more
If you know me, you know the Mass Effect series of video games is one of my favourite things. You may also know that I’ve been slowly working my way through all related books and graphic novels, and so far have been sadly disappointed. So it is with great delight that I proclaim this particular volume my favourite Mass Effect related book so far!
This is, in a similar way to Mass ...more

2.5/5
I thought the first issue of foundation was great with a surprise ending to it. It gave us a backstory to our main character, and it didn't have the luxury like ME: Evolution to tell it all in one Volume to do so. and I thought it did a great job on it. I hate her in the DLC actually but I gotta admit that I felt sympathy for her.
Sadly though the next three issues were lacking for me. They revolve around our ME1 companions Wrex, Ashley, and Kaidan.
Each issue gets kind of pointless. Especia ...more
I thought the first issue of foundation was great with a surprise ending to it. It gave us a backstory to our main character, and it didn't have the luxury like ME: Evolution to tell it all in one Volume to do so. and I thought it did a great job on it. I hate her in the DLC actually but I gotta admit that I felt sympathy for her.
Sadly though the next three issues were lacking for me. They revolve around our ME1 companions Wrex, Ashley, and Kaidan.
Each issue gets kind of pointless. Especia ...more


More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Mass Effect Foundation is a beautifully illustrated book with a fascinating intro story that quickly catches one's attention. However, by the middle of the book, it is clear that this is for fans of the game only and would be very confusing to anyone not familiar with the game's characters. Since I had only a cursory knowledge of the game, I did get lost easily and clearly missed out on a lot of references. But that s ...more

Foundation Vol.1 is kind of like a prequel and connector book for Mass Effect 1. We have a new character Rasa, who works for Cerberus, a bit of back story for Wrex, just what happened to Ashley on Eden Prime, and Kaidan’s rather odd training as a biotic.
Mass Effect is one of those game franchises that just keeps giving and even when the stories are only so-so it’s still really fun to read them. Rasa is an agent for Cerberus, a pro-human group, and she’s willing to do nearly anything to get the i ...more
Mass Effect is one of those game franchises that just keeps giving and even when the stories are only so-so it’s still really fun to read them. Rasa is an agent for Cerberus, a pro-human group, and she’s willing to do nearly anything to get the i ...more

The first issue of the Foundation series plays it safe. We get a few backstories for Kaiden, Ashley, and Wrex, set just before the events of Mass Effect 1. There's a narrative thread that ties all of these stories together in the form of a Cerberus agent that was involved or at least adjacent to the events of the first game, though she never appeared in the game itself.
I'm conflicted on this book. I enjoyed the art style, with its bold colors and clean look. And it was fun to see more of some of ...more
I'm conflicted on this book. I enjoyed the art style, with its bold colors and clean look. And it was fun to see more of some of ...more

Mass Effect: Foundation Volume 1 is related to the Mass Effect video game. In addition, it's written by the lead writer of the Mass Effect 2 and 3 games. It introduces some characters, provides some backstory, but it's a little short and a bit confusing.
It's a volume 1, and it introduces a character named Rasa and gives her backstory. She's an interesting story and works for the shadowy Illusive Man. Just as her story seems to be making sense, she runs across Wrex and Ashley Williams, from the g ...more
It's a volume 1, and it introduces a character named Rasa and gives her backstory. She's an interesting story and works for the shadowy Illusive Man. Just as her story seems to be making sense, she runs across Wrex and Ashley Williams, from the g ...more

Similar to Homeworlds, this comic collection focuses on the lives various familiar (and - up until a certain DLC - less familiar) NPCs led leading up to their meeting with Commander Shepard. While I enjoyed the look at events that Kaidan and Ashley hinted at within the games (the Gagarin Station biotic training camp, Eden Prime), only Kaidan's story managed to really grab me. Perhaps because both Ashley's and Wrex' stories do not have them as their own life's protagonists: they are told through
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Being a big fan of the Mass Effect game series, and having enjoyed the one book I read, I was curious about some of the comic offerings out there. And while there are some interesting bits in it, Mass Effect: Foundation, Volume 1 overall feels like it's missing some elements.
The story follows two Cerberus operatives as they interact with various members of the Normandy crew. Each issue focuses on one crew member (with the exception of the initial issue that introduces us to the main protagonist) ...more
The story follows two Cerberus operatives as they interact with various members of the Normandy crew. Each issue focuses on one crew member (with the exception of the initial issue that introduces us to the main protagonist) ...more

I'm not sure how I missed this series of Mass Effect comics when I read the rest. But ultimately, I didn't miss much. These stories, retelling some of the events preceeding the original Mass Effect from a different perspective, don't really add much to the galaxy of Mass Effect. We get introduced to a new character (or maybe minor character I've forgotten from the games) in the first issue, which uses its twist to have the most impact of the four issues, then get stories about Wrex (fun but not
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It’d be nice and tidy to suggest that Mass Effect‘s infamously unsatisfying ending in 2012 is what has caused the ever-flowing torrent of additional storylines in the form of books, comics, and multi-limbed fanfiction erotica. However, like other science fiction franchises before it, the staying power of Mass Effect comes directly from its characters, its intrigues, and the massive universe that they all play out in.
Read the full review at: http://conquistadork.net/2014/02/19/m... ...more
Read the full review at: http://conquistadork.net/2014/02/19/m... ...more
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