'BattlestarGalactica: Ghosts':Costly, but worth it

Dynamite has attempted to spin off one of its more-popular franchises yet again with its "Battlestar Galactica: Ghosts" title and chosen to do so with a virtually unknown cast - Cylons excluded.

Despite the scarcity of fan-favorites or even recognizable faces, the book succeeds in giving readers their money's worth.

At $4.99 a pop that may seem like a tough task, but writer Brandon Jerwa and the publisher are more than up to it.

Jerwa seems to take his cast of unknowns as a challenge. While some fans may be disappointed not to see characters like Starbuck and Adama in this series, Jerwa uses the relatively clean slate to show the strength of the "Galactica" concept with fresh perspectives.

He ensures we get to know all of these new creations in detail by having them all speak at length. Some of the characters are so verbose it will likely come as a shock to readers used to today's comics that largely consist of pretty pictures and sparse dialogue; however, it should come as a welcome surprise to those who are tired of being able to read some comics in under 5 minutes.

Even better, each issue of "Ghosts" is packed with 40 pages, a whopping 32 of which have story and art. When you average the cost per page, this is a tremendous deal for fans compared to most other titles.

But is the story - which consists of a complex but readable tapestry of plotlines - worth it? Yes. Jerwa spins an interesting tale that takes place shortly before the Cylon Apocalypse and which occurs aboard the Orion, where a group of thieves planning the ultimate heist cross paths with a special Colonial Air Group - nicknamed the "Ghost Squadron" - in the middle of a dangerous mission.

Each group is best symbolized by their de facto "leaders" who inevitably come into conflict: small-time thief Arvin Tyler, who always gets up no matter how many times he's knocked down, and Captain Alexander Chen, who makes sure nobody gets up once he knocks them down.

With the usual Cylon plotting and threats, Jerwa makes sure we remember this is a Galactica story, but a unique one with fresh faces. Chances are, you'll want to see them again. In the meantime, catch them while you can.

As if DC hasn't struggled enough recently, one of the publisher's best writers will soon be leaving one of its best titles.

Geoff Johns is departing the "Justice Society of America." Johns is entitled to a break after most of a decade chronicling the team and will be focusing on "Green Lantern" and the return of Barry Allen to the DC universe. However, with all apologies to new series writers Bill Willingham and Matt Sturges, Johns made this one of the few DC books with growing buzz and sales. His run was impeccable and he will be impossible to replace.

What a difference a week makes. A week after the Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Frank Miller and Odd Lot Entertainment were close to a deal that would see them re-team to bring a new version of Buck Rogers to theaters, with Miller both writing and directing, Miller's solo directorial debut, "The Spirit" opened in an embarrassing ninth place at the box office, barely clearing $10 million.

So while many feared a "Sin City 2" would be delayed for years, Miller will likely have to move forward with that film and get his mojo back before he will be given "Buck Rogers" or any other property. *

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