Tim Hedrick

The story for the show and this is so, so, so much better than the original Voltron (Go Lion?) series. I remember watching the original series on Cartoon Network and it was pretty flat/meh. The new Voltron however fleshes out the characters/story nicely, and the artwork is pretty great as well.

Voltron: Legendary Defenders Vol 1 takes place directly after the events of Season 1, Episode 10. While Allura rests after saving the Balmera, Coran takes the Paladins out for a training mission which soon turns into a rescue mission when Coran is held captive in exchange for a impossible-to-get Pearl. The Paladins quickly take off to find and collect this pearl while having to defeat monsters and save people along the way.

This feel like a sped-up episode of the show. The characters are show more pretty accurate for season 1 (I read this after watching season 5 and the characters have grown up a little since then, so going backwards slightly a bit off putting). The plotline, character/monster/planet designs and humor are pretty show accurate as well. I really enjoyed having some chapters shown from the perspective of a single character (Lance and Pidge both get this in the middle of the book). I also really enjoyed the show-accurate artwork. It's got a nice mix of the show and a thinner line, sketchier comic book style. It's really nice to look at.

My biggest issues with this come from some arguably nitpicky continuity issues. For example, Pidge's chapter mentions Coran being like a mentor to her. Which, from my knowledge of the show, simply isn't true (or at least was never shown or mentioned). And the fact this establishes it's part in a very specific timeline in the show but is never actually spoken of in the show. Also, the comic tends to go constantly, never really giving us a break or really hitting that sweet spot of really pulling you in like some of the more memorable episodes of the show. There isn't much here other than just a really fun story with the Paladins. We never actually get any additional information.

That being said, it is fun, but only if you're a fan of the show because, as stated before, it takes place inbetween episodes in season 1. There is no entry information for newcomers. You're thrown right in the middle of it. But, if you're a fan, you'll get a kick out of another fun adventure with the Paladins of Voltron while you wait for Netflix to release the next season. show less