Orbiter (comics)

2003 graphic novel

For other uses, see Orbiter (disambiguation).

Orbiter

Cover to Orbiter, art by Colleen Doran.

Date| April 2003
Page count| 104 pages
Publisher| Vertigo
Creative team
Writers| Warren Ellis
Artists| Colleen Doran
Letterers| Clem Robins
Colourists| Dave Stewart
Editors| Art Young
ISBN| 1-4012-0056-7

Orbiter is a graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran, published in 2003 by DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint.

Ellis and Doran, both spaceflight enthusiasts, dedicated Orbiter to the "lives, memories and legacies" of the astronauts who died in the 2003 Columbia disaster.

## Synopsis

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Ten years after the Space Shuttle Venture mysteriously disappeared, it returns. Of its original crew of seven, only one remains — and he is catatonic; also, there is sand from Mars in the shuttle's landing gear and the vessel itself appears to now have skin. Three specialists are brought in to investigate the Venture and its occupant, to find out what happened.

## Reception

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Publishers Weekly compared Orbiter's narrative structure to Ellis's earlier work Planetary, and commended Ellis for giving the story "emotional depth".[1] Claude Lalumiere praised Orbiter for its "sincerity, its passionate engagement, and the bold inventiveness of its ideas", but overall considered that the plot moved too smoothly, with insufficient conflict; he also criticized Doran's portrayal of emotion.[2] IGN's Hilary Goldstein concluded that the book "isn't for everyone", but emphasized its appeal to "dreamers and space cadets".[3]

## Publication history

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The graphic novel was first published as a hardcover by Vertigo in April 2003 (ISBN 1-4012-0056-7) and as a softcover by Little Brown in May 2004 (ISBN 1-4012-0268-3). Titan Books published a British softcover in June 2004 (ISBN 1840237244).

## References

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1. ^ ORBITER, reviewed at Publishers Weekly; published 15 September 2003; retrieved 14 March 2017
2. ^ Orbiter, by Warren Ellis and Colleen Doran, reviewed by Claude Lalumiere, originally published in the Montreal Gazette, 2 August 2003; archived at Infinity Plus 5 October 2003; retrieved 14 March 2017
3. ^ Orbiter Review, by Hilary Goldstein, at IGN; published 27 September 2005; retrieved 1 March 2017

## External links

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* Orbiter (hardcover) at the Grand Comics Database
* Orbiter (softcover) at the Grand Comics Database
* Orbiter at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)

* v
* t
* e

Warren Ellis bibliography

Marvel Comics|

* Astonishing X-Men
* Hellstorm: Prince of Lies
* Excalibur
* Ghost Rider Annual
* Starjammers
* Druid
* Ruins
* 2099 Unlimited
* Doom 2099
* Thor
* Carnage: Mindbomb
* Storm
* Pryde and Wisdom
* Wolverine
* Ultimate Fantastic Four
* Ultimate Galactus Trilogy
* Iron Man: Extremis
* Nextwave
* newuniversal
* Thunderbolts
* Ultimate Human
* Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars
* Secret Avengers

WildStorm|

* Planetary
* DV8
* Stormwatch
* Apollo
* Engineer
* Jack Hawksmoor
* Jenny Sparks
* Midnighter
* WildC.A.T.s/Aliens
* The Authority
* Global Frequency
* Mek
* Red
* Tokyo Storm Warning
* Desolation Jones
* Midnighter (2006)
* Ocean

DC Comics/Vertigo|

* Transmetropolitan
* story arcs
* Hellblazer
* Orbiter
* Jack Cross
* JLA Classified
* Midnighter (2015)

Image Comics|

* Lazarus Churchyard
* City of Silence
* Ministry of Space
* Down
* Fell
* Trees
* Injection

AiT/Planet Lar|

* Switchblade Honey
* Come In Alone

Avatar Press|

* Bad World
* Blackgas
* Gravel
* Wolfskin
* Black Summer
* Doktor Sleepless
* FreakAngels (webcomic)
* Anna Mercury
* No Hero
* Ignition City
* Supergod

Apparat Singles Group|

* Crécy
* Aetheric Mechanics

Dynamite Entertainment|

* James Bond

Novels|

* Crooked Little Vein
* Gun Machine

Films|

* Red
* Red 2

Others|

* Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts (documentary)
* Cold Winter (video game)
* Hostile Waters (PC game)
* G.I. Joe: Resolute (animated series)
* Castlevania (animated series)

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