Review: Descender Vol. 4- Orbital Mechanics

February 10, 2019 ComicBookWire

Quick Summary

Pros: The resolution of previous plot threads is satisfying. There are a few solid moments of suspense in this volume. The story here helps push the entire series forward and sets up an even larger conflict. The artwork is beautiful and helps in telling the story.

Cons: The focus on rising action feels less satisfying after a whole volume of slow-paced character development.

Overall: The fourth volume in the Descender series focuses on elevating the narrative of the series and setting up for a more significant confrontation in the future. This is done through a series of adventures that have some appeal on their own and also give some satisfying resolution to past story elements. The entire series of events feels a bit slow but is still very worthwhile. Fans of the Descender series are not likely to be disappointed by this entry.

Story

Descender Vol. 4: Orbital Mechanics, by Jeff Lemire, is not quite as action-packed or emotionally meaningful as its predecessors but is still a highly entertaining volume that helps push this series forward. The focus of this volume is primarily on resolving cliffhangers from previous volumes and setting up the plot for future volumes. In this way, this book feels like an integral part of the Descender series, something that helps build excitement for an even more significant story in the future. It also manages to detail a few engaging moments on its own, though maybe not quite as many as most readers would have liked. All in all, this is another success for the Descender series and is something that has me excited to read more.

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After a volume mostly consisting of flashbacks, Orbital Mechanics picks up the pace by continuing the plot from Vol. 2: Machine Moon (Review). The precarious situations each character found themselves in at the end of that volume are resolved quickly, in a way that also manages to be fun and exciting. This pushes the narrative forward and gives some satisfying resolution to cliffhangers that have existed for a while now.

From here, the book goes on to begin generating some fresh new excitement of its own. Some of this is emotional, like when Driller admits he is responsible for killing Andy’s mother. Some of it is suspenseful, like the entire situation involving Tim-22 masquerading as Tim-21. Either way, it is entertaining to see play out and helps make this volume stand on its own.

The most significant positive throughout Orbital Mechanics is the way in which it helps set up future stories. This entire volume is packed with rising action and it gives the feeling that there is something big on the horizon. It also moves all of the characters into positions where they will be able to take part in whatever is about to happen or uncover secrets of their own. Even Driller’s position on a backwater planet has an implication that it will have some sort of impact on the larger narrative of this series. Closing this volume left me very excited to see what is coming up next for this series.

The only problem with Orbital Mechanics is that an entire volume centered mostly around rising action and plot development feels out of place after a volume centered mostly around character development. Though the overall narrative here still advances, it feels like something more significant should have happened after the slow-paced narrative in the previous volume.

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Art

The artwork in the Descender series has been great so far and Orbital Mechanics is no different. Dustin Nguyen’s beautiful designs and incredible colors are as striking as they have been since the very first chapter of this series. This volume specifically emphasizes the importance of this artwork by containing a few pages that are completely silent. On these pages, Nguyen’s artwork tells the story in a way that has just as much, if not more, emotion and meaning as narration could provide. It feels like a great reaffirmation of the “a picture is worth a thousand words” idiom. Overall, the visuals here are just as positive as one would expect from a series that has been quality all the way through.