Galactica.com - New 'Battlestar Galactica' comics series delves into origins

By JEROME MAIDA , on 01-04-2008

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New 'Battlestar Galactica' comics series delves into origins
By JEROME MAIDA

For the Daily News

As fans of "Battlestar Galactica" eagerly await the debut of the critically acclaimed show's fourth season, all should be made aware of "Battlestar Galactica: Origins," an outstanding new series from Dynamite.
The goal of "Origins" is simple to state yet hard to execute: Put a spotlight on each member of a rich, complex collection of characters and show how they got that way.

The first character the series delves into is arguably the most fascinating character on the series and the most difficult to get right - Gaius Baltar. However, Dynamite gets the "architect of humanity's downfall" exactly right.

Writer Kevin Fahey really gets under the hood and shows us what makes Baltar tick.

We see Baltar as a man who long hoped to transcend his humble beginnings on a farm on Aerelon. A student with perfect grades who easily balanced his pursuit in both medical courses and computer programming, readers are treated to early signs of the arrogance and contempt for authority Baltar still possesses.

The series also shines a light on Baltar's relationships and how he was never truly close to anyone and how his desire to rise above his circumstances conflicted with acknowledging the needs of his family. These produce some heart-rending scenes. Perhaps most entertaining is Baltar's seemingly insatiable appetite for women, which would eventually lead him into the arms of a stunning blonde - unknown to him to be the Cylon, Number Six - who would eventually betray all of humanity yet feel the burden for betraying him. Their unique relationship is presented well in these pages, as when he presents her with the gift of a familiar-to-all-"Galactica"-fans, stunning red dress.

Sackhoff on Starbuck
Another blond bombshell from "Galactica," Katee Sackhoff, disclosed in this week's Entertainment Weekly that she auditioned for the role of Starbuck even though producers were looking for an actress in her 30s to play the character.

"I said, 'Oh, that's cute. But it's my part. I promise you.' "

That confidence extended to when she showed up for the audition in jeans and high heels, which the producers told her to take off (the high heels, not the jeans) in order to look more like the tough character they envisioned.

"I said, 'No! This is who I am! I will not be taking off my high heels.' "

Sackhoff admits that despite her boundless confidence and enthusiasm, the low ratings for "Galactica" are a "bummer" and part of the reason she accepted a role on the short-lived "Bionic Woman" series, which made her realize she should appreciate the richness and complexity of Starbuck.

"She was soooo much crazier than what ended up on the air," says Sackhoff of her bionic badass character. "She kept being pulled back."

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