Ratchet & Clank: Issue 1: Ears of War is the first issue of the Ratchet & Clank comic series. Released on September 9, 2010, on the PlayStation Digital Comics store,[1] it was also included in a trade paperback compiling the series. The story, written by TJ Fixman and illustrated by Adam Archer, begins the comic series narrative set after A Crack in Time. The story continues in the second issue, Friends with Benefits.
Plot[]
After saving the universe, Ratchet and Clank return to the Solana Galaxy on Veldin for some rest and relaxation. In Ratchet's garage, the duo attempts to restore a vehicle called the Skyburst 8000. A mishap with the forward thrusters sends it shooting into the air, though Clank quickly stabilizes it with a magnetic device, preventing Ratchet from being flung into the atmosphere.
Qwark, now the Galactic President of the Polaris Galaxy, arrives at the garage. Ratchet inquires if Dr. Nefarious and his butler Lawrence have been found since disappearing after the destruction of Nefarious's station. Qwark confirms Lawrence teleported Dr. Nefarious away before the crash, but their whereabouts remain unknown. However, he mentions a more pressing issue: several planets are disappearing. Qwark shows that Terachnos, Sargasso, Cobalia, and Aranos are all missing. Ratchet questions why a planet from the Bogon Galaxy would vanish, and Clank realizes the problem spans beyond the Polaris Galaxy. Clank then spots a reference to the "Helios Project" on the display, but Qwark denies knowing anything about it, calling it "top-secret". Ratchet then considers checking on Talwyn Apogee and the Apogee Space Station, but declines Qwark’s offer to help with the search, citing his workload.
After Qwark leaves, Ratchet confides in Clank that he’s grown weary of constantly fighting villains and wishes to return to a simpler life of repairing ships. Reflecting on the cost of their adventures, he mentions the loss of Alister Azimuth. Meanwhile, Artemis Zogg, a new adversary, arrives above Veldin to target it as his next planet to steal. His assistant, Vorn, informs Veldin's citizens of the impending planetary relocation. A massive energy beam transports Veldin to an unknown galaxy, and Ratchet, who had been sleeping outside, awakens to warbots invading the planet.
Ratchet and Clank fend off the warbots using tools like a magnetic stabilizer, hoverboots, an OmniWrench, and a Blaster. They attempt an escape to the Planetary Defense Center but are ultimately captured. In a transmission, Zogg identifies Ratchet and Clank, instructing his warbots to bring them to him. They are taken to an unknown location, where Ratchet observes Aranos, indicating they have left the Solana Galaxy. Finally, they meet Zogg, who reveals that they are now in his own galaxy, the Artemis Galaxy.
Reception[]
IGN rated the comic 7.0 out of 10.0. Reviewer Richard George criticized the slow-paced plot and found Archer's art insufficiently exaggerated for the series' tone. However, he praised the humor, noting that if more video game comics were like this, they would be much more enjoyable.[2]
Citations[]
References[]
- (n.d.) . "RATCHET AND CLANK #1". From DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024.
- Cardona, Cristian (2010, July 21). "Ratchet & Clank: Going Comics". From PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024.
- George, Richard (2009, October 20). "Ratchet & Clank #1 Review". From IGN. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024.