What’s in Presidential Letter 44

With the inauguration of a new President there’s always a lot of turmoil in Washington, but no amount of controversy and politicking that we see in today’s world will compare to what goes on in Letter 44.

The first issue begins with newly elected President Stephen Blades taking the oath of office…taking over from a prior administration that got the country involved in multiple wars and nearly destroyed the economy. Everyone seems to be happy about the changes the new President wants to bring about, but he’s got a letter to read – sent from the previous President. It turns out he had a reason for getting into wars and spending so much money…there are aliens headed to Earth.

Obviously this secret will impact what the new President wants to do, starting with the fact that he’s got to talk to the astronauts NASA sent to find out what the aliens are up to. The half hour round trip for communication makes things awkward but the new President lets the astronauts know he supports them and their mission.

The crew of the Clarke are made up of military and civilian scientists, men and women, all working to keep the ship together and to fulfill their mission. But they’ve got a secret of their own. Some time…within the previous 9 months, the mission commander became pregnant.

We learn that the aliens have shielded what they’re doing but The Clarke is almost to the point where they’ll peek through to the other side. It’s a very tense and exciting situation and the art makes the emotions of the characters very apparent. Expecting to die shortly after they break through the shielding, the crew of The Clark make preparations and I got a feeling of of Ridley Scott’s Alien with the small crew entering the unknown against all odds…and then they’re through and they’re the first to see the beauty of the alien contraption.

This is a very cool start to a series. The story can go in so many directions and pull in multiple genres…all of which I find entertaining. The fact that we’ve got alien SciFi, military SciFi, political conspiracies, and a questionable pregnancy all happening during a ‘peaceful transition of power’ like we have now just stirs the imagination. And I’ve heard the letter thing does actually happen – I wonder what Letter 45 would look like.

I mentioned Letter 44 was one of my favorite graphic novels of 2016 and the first volume covers the first 6 issues. Right now, Comixology has the first 2 volumes or first 13 issues available to be borrowed from their Unlimited subscription so I’d definitely recommend you give it a try.