Marvel Comics Battlestar Galactica Continuity

The timeline below chronicles the events depicted in the Marvel comic book Battlestar Galactica, which was published from 1978 to 1981, and the events of the broader TV continuity.

This timeline does not include the sequel series Galactica 1980, which though acknowledged by the Marvel writers, was never mentioned or depicted in the comics. Nor does it include comic books released by other publishers such as Realm Press.

The timeline is given in yahrens.

Timeline

In the beginning.. on Kobol

The beings who later appear to the Galacticans aboard the "Ships of Light", intervene at the beginning of human development. Adama refers to these beings as the "Mother Race." ("War of the Gods")

Year 1 - The Exodus

The original 13 tribes leave Kobol and head out into space. Twelve of the tribes settle near each other in the area known as the Twelve colonies. The remaining Thirteenth tribe heads to Earth.

c. 4000

The Colonies begin to re-establish their space travel capabilities. At this time, the Colonials were using sub light craft reminiscent of the early space vehicles launched from Earth in the 1960s and 70s. (Hand of God)

5000

The Colonies intervene in the Cylons attack on the neighbouring Hasaris.

The Thousand Year War begins between the Colonies and the Cylon Empire.

c. 5000

The Cylon Mark IIIs are exiled to the remote Cylon listening posts. (Marvel Issue #16)

c. 5500

The Galactica is first launched. Back then, the Celestial Temples on the Galactica were used to confirm navigational headings. (Hand of God)

c.5984

Captain Adama and Tigh travel to the planet Scorpio to escort the Ambassador to meetings with the Council of Twelve (Marvel issue #8)

c. 5994

The Galactica encounters a living planet that endangers the Colonies. (Marvel issue #10)

5999

Destruction of the Colonies, (at the approach of the 7th millenium of recorded time.)

Battlestar Galactica series takes place.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #1: "Battlestar Galactica" based on the first part of the episode "Saga of a Star World."

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #2: "Exodus!" based on the second part of the episode "Saga of a Star World."

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #3: "Deathtrap!" based on the third part of the episode "Saga of a Star World."

Meanwhile, back in the former Colonies, Adama's wife, Ilya escapes Caprica in a beaten up old space ship in an attempt to catch up to the fleet. (Marvel issue #15)

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #4: "The Lost Gods of Kobol" based on the first part of the episode "Lost Planet of the Gods."

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #5: "The Lost Gods of Kobol - Part Two: A Death in the Family!" based on the second part of the episode "Lost Planet of the Gods."

This is the place where Marvel continuity breaks with the series. Instead of heading out of the void at the end of the episode, followed by Serina's deathbed sequence on the Galactica, issue #5 ends with Serina dying on the surface of Kobol. While this at first appears to be poetic shorthand, in issue #6 we open with the Galactica heading deeper into the void - a void which does not end just beyond Kobol but that continues on for a much greater distance. In fact, the storyline continues with the fleet continuing its journey through the void until issue #14.

Another departure involves Adama's attempt to recollect the information about the location of Earth that he saw inscribed on a wall just before Cylons bombed Kobol. In order to try and remember this information, Adama dons a spacesuit and enters a clear globe filled with gas called the "Memory Machine" which is supposed to help one revive memories. Adama remains inside the machine until issue #12. (It should be noted that this device was a noticable constraint on the writers).

All issues of the Marvel comics from issue 6 forward are not based on any episodes of the series.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #6: "The Memory Machine"

In this issue, Adama enters the "Memory Machine" in an attempt to recall the location of Earth. In the meantime, Sire Uri plots to take over the Council of Twelve in his absense.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #7: "All Things Past and Present!"

Adama recollects dueling with Baltar in his past while Sire Uri's men attempt to assassinate Adama while he is in the Memory Machine. The attempt fails, but the controls of the machine are damaged, perhaps trapping Adama inside it forever.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #8: "Shuttle-Diplomacy"

In this issue we join Adama as he relives a part of his life courtesy of the Memory Machine. He recollects a time when he and Tigh served as an escort to the Ambassador of Scorpio as part of negotiations with the Council of Twelve. In this story, Adama comes to terms with some of the prejudices he holds towards artificial intelligence.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #9: "Space Mimic!"

As the Fleet continues its voyage through the void, Sire Uri and his men are placed under house arrest. Meanwhile, a "space vampire" from the void has boarded the Galactica, killing people for their energy, and assuming the appearance of its victims. Arriving at the chamber of the Memory Machine, the Mimic touches the mechanism and assumes the identity of Adama. However, the force of Adama's personality ultimately proves to be the creature's undoing.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #10: "This Planet Hungers"

Again we join Adama as he relives an earlier period of his life due to the effects of the Memory Machine. He recollects a time when the Galactica encountered a living planet which threathened the Colonies, and he had to make a determination as to whether or not it should be destroyed.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #11: "Scavenge World"

This issue begins one week after the events of issue #7, when Adama was trapped in the Memory Machine. Boomer, Athena and Starbuck, on recon patrol, stumble across Scavenge World, a planet composed entirely of spare parts and inhabited by alien scavengers. They are captured and brought before the throne of Eurayle, the leader of the scavenger "family." Meanwhile, the Galactica is buffetted by a unexpected Cylon attack. The Cylons are momentarily averted, and the Fleet arrives at Scavenge World. Learning of the Galactica's situation, Eurayle makes a proposal - she will use her powers of the mind to free Commander Adama from the Memory Machine, if she can receive Lieutenant Starbuck in return.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #12: "The Trap!"

Starbuck considers Eurayle's offer and reluctantly agrees, and returns to Scavenge World. Meanwhile, three Cylon basestars rapidly approach the Fleet, sending ahead wave after wave of Raiders. Eurayle awakens Adama and he returns to the bridge just in time to see a Basestar bearing down on the Galactica on a collision course.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #13: "Collision Course!"

The combined might of the Galactica and Scavenge World defeats the first Cylon basestar, resulting in plenty of spare parts for the taking, but the Galactica is rendered immobile. Apollo and Boomer load a freighter with explosives with a plan to detonate it and destroy the second and third basestars. Starbuck escapes from Scavenge World on an ancient shuttle and provides Apollo and Starbuck cover as they eject in a shuttle pod and the plans succeed. Lucifer escapes, Adama has Uri arrested, and Starbuck is left behind as the repaired fleet heads out.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #14: "Trial and Error"

The Fleet reaches the end of the void, and the Colonials celebrate. Meanwhile, Apollo is worried about Boxey who is upset at Starbuck's absense.

Later, while unobserved, Boxey decides to steal a Viper to go and save Starbuck. Taking a shortcut, Boxey ends up in the ship's engine room, exposed to radiation, and nearly dies but for the intervention of Muffit, who dies in the effort to save him.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #15: "Derelict!"

Boomer boards a derelict ship discovered near the fleet. On the ship he discovers Adama's wife, Ilya, who had been assumed to have died at the Destruction of the Colonies. She had fled on this vessel with several others, in an attempt to catch up to the Fleet, but and one by one each of the survivors had died from a Cylon plague. Ilya, the last survivor, dies in Boomer's arms, as he pledges not to tell Adama of her terrible fate.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #16: "Berserker"

The Galactica enconters a Cylon listening post, and discovers it is inhabited by an exile - a 1,000 yahren old Mark III Cylon who has a high performance sub light fighter. After a dogfight, Apollo and the Mark III both crash on the planet's surface, and end up fighting hand to hand. Apollo manages to drop the Cylon in a volcano and the Fleet departs. At the end of the comic, the Mark III emerges from the lava.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #17: "Apes and Essence"

Apollo and another Colonial named Enoch visit a planet populated by aggressive red apes, and bring back a large sample of fruit to the Galactica. Later, Enoch eats the fruit, which he cannot resist, and transforms into a red ape! He tears around the Galactica like a red version of the Hulk, then steals a Viper. He is pursued by several female warriors, all of which he cripples causing them to crash on the planet along with his ship.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #18: "Forbidden Fruit"

Apollo comes to the rescue of the female Viper pilots, and pursues the red ape Enoch through the jungle, swinging through the trees. Enoch falls off a cliff and dies, while back on the Galactica, there is a close call as Adama nearly succumbs to the fruit himself.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #19: "The Daring Escape of the Space Cowboy"

A strange ship intercepts the fleet and without communicating first comes in and crashes on one of the Galactica's flight decks. The hatch opens and out comes Starbuck, who has returned from Scavenger World. Starbuck relates the tale of his escape, and as his concludes the story, word comes that the Fleet is being pursued by craft from Scavanger World.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #20: "Hell Hath No Fury"

Adama meets with Mastertech Shadrach (a recurring bit character since issue #6) and asks him to go over Starbuck's Scavenger World craft very carefully. Due to its age, he suspects it may hold a clue to the lost colony of Earth. Adama also assigns Lt. Jolly on an undercover mission to determine where losses from the Fleet's food stores are ending up. Meanwhile, Starbuck and Apollo go to rendezvous with the Scavenger World shi's who have brought Eurayle. Apollo suggests that Eurayle and Starbuck resolve their dispute over whether or not Starbuck should return to Scavanger World with a duel to the death. They fake Starbuck's death during the battle, and Eurayle leaves.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #21: "A World for the Killing!"

While in combat with Cylon Raiders, Athena's Viper vanishes. She is magically transported to a strange world inhabited by a humanoid named Res. In reality, Res is a shapeshifter in search of love. Apollo and Starbuck arrive to rescue Athena. Res reveals that he also brought Athena to the planet to help him transcend his mortal form. Athena fires a laser at Res at his request, and Res ascends to the next plane - his voice resonates from the grave as the Colonials leave and the planet explodes, assuring her that what Athena did was right. Oh, and the Cylons they encountered were part of the illusion too. (Yeesh)

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #22: "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair"

Jolly's undercover mission continues as he pretends to be a civilian aboard a Fleet vessel. He meets a woman named Ligea who he develops feelings for. Finally he encounters a group of well equipped pirates who he observes stealing a whole warehouse of food stores. His investigation later reveals that Ligea is actually Medea, Sire Uri's ex-girlfriend! However, when Jolly ends up getting thrown in jail by security for sneaking around, Medea frees him to go after the bad guys - reaffirming his belief that she's a nice girl after all.

Battlestar Galactica Marvel Comic issue #23: "The Last Hiding Place"

Jolly, along with Boomer, track the pirates back to a Fleet vessel called the Justice. The trail leads from the Justice to the Rising Star, where the plots of Sire Uri continue, despite the fact that Uri himself is in jail. The food shipments are being stolen to provide for the luxury of revellers led by Lady Magda Kocinik. The ring is busted, and the bad guys confined to the Justice which is left behind, crippled.

This being the last comic, several plot strands are wound up. With Adama's help, Shadrach has been able to use the information from Starbuck's old ship, the pattern of the seal of the 9th Lord of Kobol, and information found while Adama was in the Memory Machine, to plot a course to Earth. The location is distant, "beyond even our own galaxy" as Shadrach puts it.

Boxey is given a new robotic daggit, Jolly gets together with Medea, and now that all the vessels have been equipped with Star Drives,the Fleet jumps to hyperspace.

In the last panel, an unmarked buoy discovers the Justice drifting in space and relays the following message: "Squeee! Attention all Cylons!"

Although there are some inconsistencies, particularly in tone and characterization, the last issue of the comic does lead nicely into the episode "The Lost Warrior" which depicts the Fleet leaving the Galactica's home galaxy for the first time (even though this is scientifically screwy).

6000

Episode "The Lost Warrior."

Episode "The Long Patrol."

Episode "Gun on Ice Planet Zero."

Episode "The Magnificent Warriors."

Episode "The Young Lords."

Episode "The Living Legend."

Episode "Fire in Space."

Episode "War of the Gods."

Episode "The Man with Nine Lives."

Episode "Murder on the Rising Star.".

Episode "Greetings from Earth."

Episode "Baltar's Escape."

Episode "Experiment in Terra."

Episode "Take the Celestra."

Episode "The Hand of God."

6001

The journey continues.

In the comic continuity, there is an even stronger suggestion that the Galactica is on the right course to Earth. By this point, the Galactica has received information on how to reach Earth from the discoveries on Kobol, findings from Scavenger World and testimony from various people such as Robber. Furthermore, John, of the Ship of Lights, has confirmed the heading for Earth.

The Marvel Comics, however, provide no information as to how the story would ultimately be resolved, which is especially interesting in light of the fact they were written concurrently with the airing of the series Galactica: 1980. Although this was explained in the letter columns at the time as a copyright concern, one wonders if the writers may not have immediately realized the weakness of the Galactica: 1980 premise.

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Last Updated on Monday, April 18, 2005