Battlestar Galactica has been adapted to thecomic book format since its inception, with six publishers to date taking on the project of relating the story of the Colonial Fleet and their adversaries, theCylons, at different points.
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The comic bookBattlestar Galactica, based on theABC television series of the same name, was published monthly byMarvel Comics from March 1979 through January 1981, and lasted 23 issues.
AlthoughRoger McKenzie was most often the writer, andWalt Simonson the most regular artist, the book also had a high rotation of guest writers and artists, see table below.
Marvel Comics began its adaptation ofBattlestar Galactica withMarvel Super Special #8, a magazine format comic written by Roger McKenzie and drawn byErnie Colón which was released as a tie-in to the start of the series. Based on an early script of the three hour series premiere "Saga of a Star World", this adaptation was also released in a tabloid format[1][2] and then later as a paperback as well. The tabloid version was also printed byWhitman Comics. Its success led Marvel to print a regular monthly comic.
When the regular run of Marvel'sBattlestar Galactica comic book began some months later, the Super Special adaptation was expanded by several pages, and provided the material for the first three issues of the comic.
The direct adaptation of the series continued in issues #4 and #5 which chronicled the adventures depicted in the two part television episode, "Lost Planet of the Gods". Roger McKenzie continued as scripter, with Walter Simonson now providing the art.
By issue #6 the TV adaptations ceased, and Marvel's team began to create new stories about the characters of theBattlestar Galactica universe, picking up from where issue #5 left off. From this point, both in terms of story content and the narrative arc, Marvel'sBattlestar Galactica deviates from the televised adventures. Marvel's contract withUniversal Studios specifically did not allow them to use anything from the television series that followed "Lost Planet of the Gods"[citation needed]. This adaption more closely followed the novelization of the two-hour movie,Saga of a Star World, than the ABC television series.
Although the run of theBattlestar Galactica comic coincided with the broadcast of the short-livedGalactica sequel series,Galactica 1980 onABC, the newer program was never referred to in the pages of the comic, apart from the letters page[citation needed].
Notably, the writers of theGalactica comic were quite willing to remove key characters from the dramatic mix for periods of time. From issues #6 to #12, Commander Adama is placed within a machine to help him remember the ancient writings he briefly saw on Kobol and, although we do spend some time in his dreams, he is effectively removed from commanding theGalactica for several issues.
Another character who leaves the series for a while is Starbuck. In this plotline, the fleet comes across Scavenger World, and the female space pirate Eurayle, who makes a deal to spare the Colonials if Starbuck remains with her. Starbuck does so, and the fleet moves on without him, setting up his return in issues #19 and #20.
Unlike both television series, theGalactica comic had a planned ending, with a series of plot devices being wound up in the final two part story of issues #22 and #23. In the course of solving a mystery, Lieutenant Jolly finds adventure and romance and helps in figuring out the long sought coordinates for Earth. This adventure drawn and scripted by Walt Simonson provided a natural conclusion for the storyline.
| Issue | Title | Writer | Penciller | Cover | Notes | |
| #1 | Battlestar Galactica | Roger McKenzie | Ernie Colon | Dave Cockrum, Bob McLeod | adaptsepisode 1 | |
| #2 | Exodus | Roger McKenzie | Ernie Colon | adaptsepisode 2 | ||
| #3 | Death Trap | Roger McKenzie | Ernie Colon | Rudy Nebres | adaptsepisode 3 | |
| #4 | The Lost Gods of Kobol | Roger McKenzie | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson, Klaus Janson | adaptsepisode 4 | |
| #5 | The Lost Gods of Kobol: Part Two - A Death in the Family | Roger McKenzie | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson, Klaus Janson | adaptsepisode 5 | |
| #6 | The Memory Machine | Roger McKenzie | Rich Buckler | Rich Buckler, Klaus Janson | Beginning of Memory Machine story arc (lasts through Issue #12) | |
| #7 | All Things Past and Present | Roger McKenzie | Rich Buckler | Klaus Janson | ||
| #8 | Shuttle-Diplomacy | Bill Mantlo | Sal Buscema | Rich Buckler, Klaus Janson | Flashback story | |
| #9 | Space-Mimic | Bill Mantlo | Sal Buscema, Klaus Janson | Pat Broderick, Terry Austin | ||
| #10 | This Planet Hungers | Tom DeFalco | Pat Broderick | Pat Broderick | Flashback story | |
| #11 | Scavenge World | Roger McKenzie, Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson, Klaus Janson | Scavenge World story arc/ Departure of Starbuck | |
| #12 | The Trap | Roger McKenzie | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | ||
| #13 | Collision Course | Roger McKenzie, Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | ||
| #14 | Trial and Error | Roger McKenzie | Jim Mooney | Walt Simonson | ||
| #15 | Derelict | Walt Simonson, Roger McKenzie | Walt Simonson, Klaus Janson | Walt Simonson | Flashback story | |
| #16 | Berserker | Bob Layton, Roger McKenzie | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | ||
| #17 | Ape and Essence | Walt Simonson, Steven Grant | Walt Simonson | Klaus Janson | Two-issue story arc | |
| #18 | Forbidden Fruit | Walt Simonson, Steven Grant | Sal Buscema, Klaus Janson | Michael Golden | ||
| #19 | The Daring Escape of the Space Cowboy | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Return of Starbuck | |
| #20 | Hell Hath No Fury | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | ||
| #21 | A World For the Killing | Steven Grant, Walt Simonson | Brent Anderson | Brent Anderson, Klaus Janson | ||
| #22 | Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Series-ending story arc | |
| #23 | The Last Hiding Place | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | Walt Simonson | ||
This children's magazine published a serializedBSG strip from October 20, 1979, to October 11, 1980. The four untitled storylines spanned 52 issues, 13 two-page chapters per storyline, from 1979 #43 to 1980 #42 (the numbering started over again at #1 in January 1980, though the storyline continued to fold as normal). Surprisingly well-rendered and well written, this ongoing Galactica comic has been all but forgotten.
Look-In Magazine—Weekly Serial
A French-made comic-book series of 28 episodes, based on Battlestar Galactica, was published from 1981 to 1982 inTélé-Junior, a French TV-themed comic magazine similar toLook-In, with art by Gerald Forton.[3] The comic was simultaneously published inSuper J, a companion magazine toTélé-Junior.[4]
In addition, Grandreams came out with twoBattlestar Galactica hardcover annuals, which contained short text and comic book stories. These comics were aimed primarily at children.
Battlestar Galactica—Hardcover Annual
Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack—Hardcover Annual
In July 1995, Maximum Press published a well received mini-series that explained what had happened to our heroes in the intervening years. Ignoring the storyline of theABC sequel seriesGalactica 1980, this mini-series followed the crew as they approached Earth, led by Commander Apollo, who had succeeded his father.
The mini-series led to several sequels including "Apollo's Journey", "The Enemy Within", and "Starbuck", all published as three or four issue series in 1995 through early 1996. "Journey's End", the final four issue series, shows theGalactica travelling back through time to the Cylon attack on Caprica. After theBattlestar Galactica Compendium, published in early 1997, Maximum Press announced it would no longer be publishingGalactica based comics[citation needed].
Miniseries
Asylum (monthly anthology series)
Compilations
(Collects Baptism of Fire and The Rebirth of Cy)
(Collects Athena's Quest)
In 1998, Realm Press published their "Battlestar Galactica Search for Sanctuary" single issue special. Other one shots were subsequently published. Later, Realm Press introduced a monthly comic titled "Battlestar Galactica Season 3". This series ran for three issues before it was canceled, and shortly thereafter Realm abandoned the project altogether[citation needed].
Battlestar Galactica, Season II
Issue 1: The Law of Volahd, Part 1 (2 alternative covers)
Issue 2: The Law of Volahd, Part 2
Issue 3: Prison of Souls, Part 1 (2 alternative covers)
Issue 4: Prison of Souls, Part 2
Issue 5: Prison of Souls, Part 3
Battlestar Galactica, Season III
Issue 1: No Place Like Home (3 alternative covers)
Issue 2: Hades Hath No Fury (4 alternative covers)
Issue 3: Fire in the Sky (3 alternative covers)
Galactica: The New Millennium
Eve of Destruction
Search for Sanctuary
1999 Tourbook
Special Edition
Gallery Special
Canceled one-shots
Dynamite Entertainment, as well as publishing a series based on the newBattlestar Galactica, began publishingClassic Battlestar Galactica based on the original series and set during the early part of the series.
Dynamite has also started another series,Battlestar Galactica: Cylon Apocalypse, that takes place at an undetermined time after the series ended.
In August 2009, Dynamite Entertainment released aGalactica 1980 comic series, written byMarc Guggenheim which was a re-imagining of the originalGalactica 1980 series.[5]
In 2012, Dynamite Entertainment announced that a volume two of the Classic Battlestar Galactica would be released.[6] This series started in 2013. In July 2013, Dynamite also announced a mini-series focusing on the character Starbuck.[7]
 | This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(April 2020) |
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In May 2006, Dynamite Entertainment announced a new ongoingBattlestar Galactica comic book series based on thereimagining, set between the events of "Home" and "Resurrection Ship".
In addition to the aforementioned ongoing title, otherBattlestar Galactica comics have been announced, including a 4-issue series spotlightingTom Zarek's life, a prequel mini set during theFirst Cylon War, and a one-shot featuring the Battlestar Pegasus.
In May 2007, Dynamite Entertainment publishedBattlestar Galactica Season Zero issue #0 as part ofFree Comic Book Day. The new series occurs two years before the events in the SciFi TV movie.
Brandon Jerwa has written a four-issue miniseries about the Ghost Squadron, ablack-ops team that flystealthed Vipers, who find them separated from the rest of the fleet after the Cylon attack.[8]
David Reed and Seamus Kevin Fahey (writer of televised episode "Faith" and co-writer of webisode series "The Face of the Enemy") have written an official series about the backstory of theFinal Five.[9] The first issue of Battlestar Galactica: The Final Five was released on April 22, 2009.[10] The second issue was released on May 13, 2009.[11] The third issue was released on June 3, 2009.[12] The fourth issue was released on July 1, 2009.[13]
Dynamite Entertainment then continued its publishing of Galactica titles with the release of theBattlestar Galactica: Cylon War and theBattlestar Galactica: The Final Five trade paperbacks in December 2009. In 2013, they resumed publishing of Galactica titles with theClassic Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 titles and others.
A miniseries has been announced for 2018 which will see the twoGalactica series come face-to-face following the discovery of Kali, the last of the reptilian race who created the original Cylons.[14]
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