Orphan Black (comic book)

Orphan Black
Cover of Orphan Black Issue #1 Variant Cover A by Cat Staggs
Publication information
Publisher	IDW Publishing
Schedule	Monthly, Bi-Monthly, Tri-Monthly
Format	Limited series
Genre	Science fiction
Publication date	February 2015
No. of issues	5 (series 1) 5 (series 2)
Creative team
Created by	John Fawcett Graeme Manson
Written by	John Fawcett Graeme Manson (series 1) Heli Kennedy (series 2)
Artist(s)	Szymon Kudranski (series 1, issues 1–2) Cat Staggs (series 1, issues 3–4) Alan Quah (series 1, issues 3–5; series 2, issue 1) Wayne Nichols (series 1, issue 5; series 2, issues 2–5) Fico Ossio (series 2, issues 2–5)
Letterer(s)	Neil Uyetake
Colorist(s)	Matt Lopes (series 1, issues 1–2) Chris Fenoglio (series 1, issues 3–5; series 2, issues 1–3) Eelco Koper (series 1, issue 4) Andrew Elder (series 2, issue 3) Sebastian Cheng (series 2, issues 4–5)
Editor(s)	Denton J. Tipton (edits) Mackenzie Donaldson and Kerry Appleyard (series 2, story edits)

Orphan Black is a limited series of comic books based on the television series Orphan Black, which airs on BBC America in the United States and Space in Canada. The series is written by show creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson, with serving as co-writer; Szymon Kudranski provides the artwork for issues #1 and #2, while Cat Staggs and Alan Quah share art duties for issues #3-#5.^[1][2] The comic books were part of a limited series consisting of five issues, each focusing on the past and present life of a different clone.^[1][3]

The second limited series entitled Orphan Black: Helsinki began release in November 2015 and contains five issues. It is written by Fawcett and Manson alongside Heli Kennedy. Each issue offers a regular cover, a subscription variant, and a retailer incentive variant. It follows the character Veera Suominen, a Finnish clone who survived Topside's attempted kill order on a group of self-aware clones located in Helsinki.

The third limited series entitled Orphan Black: Deviations was announced on December 20, 2016 and contains six issues, starting with a 40-page premiere issued in March 2017. The series is part of IDW's "Deviations" series, which focuses on reinventing familiar stories by changing a significant event within their mythology. Orphan Black: Deviations explores an alternate story line where Sarah prevents Beth's suicide and does not subsequently take over her identity, as the first episode of the television series portrays. Heli Kennedy and Wayne Nichols resumed their creative roles from the second series, serving as author and artist, respectively.^[4]

Publication history[]

The first issue of the series was released on February 25, 2015.^[1][2][5] A new issue was released monthly, or bi-monthly, until August 12, 2015, when the final of the five contracted issues was released.^[1] The issues in order feature Sarah, Helena, Alison, Cosima, and Rachel.

The second miniseries, Orphan Black: Helsinki began publication on November 18, 2015. The five issues for the series were released monthly until March 2016. All issues have been released through IDW Publishing.

The third limited series, Orphan Black: Deviations debuted in March 2017 through IDW, as part of the publisher's "Deviations" line. The series contains six issues.^[4]

The fourth series Crazy Science was intended be released in June 2018. It would have had six issues. Though the first issue would release in July 2018, the rest of the series would be cancelled due to low orders from comic shops.^[6]

Plot[]

Series 01: The Clone Club[]

Issue #1: Sarah[]

The plot of the first issue closely follows the storyline established in the television series' pilot episode and similarly focuses on Sarah Manning and her discovery of her numerous genetic identicals. Scenes from the episode are recounted in the comic book, intermixed with new scenes and flashbacks.^[1][2] The new material specific to the comic books includes flashback sequences to Sarah's childhood, additions to and extensions of scenes in the present storyline, and insight into Sarah's thoughts and feelings as she takes over the life of a dead woman who shares her exact external appearance.^[1][7]

Issue #2: Helena[]

The second issue of the series, released in March 2015, focuses on Helena's childhood as well as her adult actions and motivations that are presented in the first season of the television series.^[5]

Issue #3: Alison[]

Released May 2015. Alison Hendrix is a typical soccer mom with a typical husband and two adopted children. But she also happens to be a clone in pursuit of the nature of her origins. ^[8]

Issue #4: Cosima[]

Released June 24, 2015. A scientist with a mysterious illness, Cosima must use every ounce of her bravery and intellect to save her clone sisters and herself.^[9]

Issue #5: Rachel[]

Released August 12, 2015. Rachel is ruthless corporate efficiency personified. She’s a clone raised self-aware of her genetic identity, occupying an elite position with the Dyad group of companies.^[10]

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Series 02: Helsinki[]

Spoken in hushed tones, the word means almost certain death for the clones of Project Leda. Learn the dark secrets of this codename in this special event miniseries by co-creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson. Like the previous comic series, it will have five issues, focused on the Helsinki clones. It will be released monthly.

Issue #1: The Chaos Strategy[]

Released November 18, 2015. Finnish orphan Veera Suominen awoke from her nightmare only to find her reality turned upside down. Her caretaker has been monitoring her with cameras as well as drawing blood as she sleeps for reasons unknown. Veera soon discovers that her "uncle" has a list of other girls her age, and she fells her home to warn them.

Issue #2: Clone Duplication[]

Released December 30, 2015. Finnish orphan Veera Suominen awoke from her nightmare only to find her reality turned upside down. Her caretaker has been monitoring her with cameras as well as drawing blood as she sleeps for reasons unknown. Veera soon discovers that her "uncle" has a list of other girls her age, and she fells her home to warn them. Veera's first stop is Helsinki, where she just made contact with Niki, who appears to be her exact double.

Issue #3: Fail-Safe Redundancy[]

Released January 27, 2016. Titled The Mystery of the Killer Clone on the subscription variant. Finnish orphan Veera Suominen awoke from a nightmare only to her reality turned upside down. Her caretaker had been monitoring her with cameras as well as drawing blood as she slept for reasons unknown. Veera discovered that her "Uncle Matt" has a list of other girls her age, and she fled her home to warn them. Veera's first stop was Helsinki, where she met Niki, who appears to be her exact double. After escaping Matti again, Veera – along with Niki and her boyfriend Aleks – soon fled to Gdansk, Poland, where they discover six more clones.

Issue #4: False Positive Error[]

Released February 24, 2016. Finnish orphan Veera Suominen awoke from a nightmare only to her reality turned upside down. Her caretaker had been monitoring her with cameras as well as drawing blood as she slept for reasons unknown. Veera discovered that her "Uncle Matt" has a list of other girls her age, and she fled her home to warn them. Veera's first stop was Helsinki, where she met Niki, who appears to be her exact double. After escaping Matti again, Veera – along with Niki and her boyfriend Aleks – soon fled to Gdansk, Poland, where they discover six more clones. After one of the clones was murdered, the group split up, but the remaining clones were more determined than ever to find the truth. Veera began researching Dr. Dmitri Volkov, only to be confronted by him and abducted!

Issue #5: Kill Switch[]

Released May 25, 2016. Finnish orphan Veera Suominen awoke from a nightmare only to have her reality turned upside down. Her caretaker had been monitoring her with cameras as well as drawing blood as she slept for reasons unknown. Veera discovered that her "Uncle Matt" has a list of other girls her age, and she fled her home to warn them. Veera's first stop was Helsinki, where she met Niki, who appears to be her exact double. After escaping Matti again, Veera – along with Niki and her boyfriend Aleks – soon fled to Gdansk, Poland, where they discover six more clones! The clones have since been picked off one by one and their plan to expose DYAD was undermined by the Sept. 11 terror attacks on the United States.

Series 03: Deviations[]

The third series explores an alternate story line in which Sarah does not witness Beth's suicide in front of the train, stopping her suicide instead. It contains six issues written by Heli Kennedy and illustrated by Wayne Nichols. ^[4]

Issue #1[]

Released March 29th 2017. The train arrives 5 minutes early and Sarah is able to pull Beth away from the train tracks. Beth flees to Alison and Cosima, telling them her suspicions of Paul being a monitor while trying to hold it together for when Katja arrives; and promises Alison equipment to watch Donnie's actions. Sarah and Felix follow Beth for a few days, seeing Beth & Alison practice shooting together and assuming triplets. They witness Art following Beth as they break into her apartment and learn Beth is a cop. Sarah has sex with Paul to distract him, making him suspicious and call Oliver. Vic harasses Felix for the cocaine. Sarah considers and decides against visiting Siobhan and Kira, while MK follows and then captures her. Sarah wakes up in MK"s trailer with her and Beth. MK reveals the reason she is in Canada is to hunt down the people that helped execute her friends from Helsinki; including the British clone Rachel Duncan. Believing the punk look to be Rachel in disguise, MK prepares to torture Sarah.

Issue #2[]

Released April 26th 2017. Sarah is able to stop MK by saying she has a daughter. Unsure of her story and demanding genetic proof, Beth forcibly takes Sarah to Felix's along with Alison and Cosima. Revealing the nature of the clones, Beth still hides MK's existence from the others but tells them of the lead on Rachel Duncan of the Dyad Institute. Felix and Beth-as-Sarah take a medical swab from Kira but are caught by Mrs. S who bans "Sarah" from seeing Kira. Alison is forced to harbor Sarah in her craft room; Donnie sees Sarah but doesn't notice the difference, furthering Alison's suspicions. MK further researches the bots, telling Beth of the clone killer Ferdinand. Beth theorizes he and Rachel are lovers; MK wonders if Ferdinand would come running for Rachel. Beth begins snorting the cocaine. Katja arrives the next day and is spotted by Vic who thinks she is Sarah and demands the cocaine. Katja flees and is picked up by Beth, who hits Vic with her car. Beth and Katja are chased by a motorcyclist; Helena.

Issue #3[]

Released July 12th 2017. MK directs Beth and Katja to a wooded area and shoots the motorcyclist with arrows. Beth has a shot but sees Maggie instead, giving Helena the chance to flee. Katja and MK reunite as survivors of Helsinki but Katja promises not to reveal MK. Katja tells the rest of the clones that her friends died in 2001. The clones initially suspect the motorcyclist and Helsinki murders are the same killer, possibly Vic; though Sarah says he is too stupid for that. Beth leaves Katja with MK and goes to the shipyard where Helena is staying but is caught by Art. Tomas repairs Helena and sends her out again to kill the others. Beth missed her hearing about the Maggie Chen shooting and sneaks away from Art to go on a five day bender, ignoring the clones. Still captive at Alison's, Sarah sees a bunch of lab technicians sneak into the house, making Alison fear Donnie is in on it. Cosima researches Katja's samples with Scott and while distracted by a call from Alison, misses Delphine's initial bait to introduce herself. Cosima instead looks towards Leekie and Neolution. Beth is knocked out by Detective Duko and wakes up in BrightBorn with Evie Cho.

Issue #4[]

Released August 30th 2017. Cosima reads Beth's copy of the book by Dr. Leekie and attends the lecture by him at her school. Meeting Delphine they like each other and kiss but are interrupted by Cosima's ex-girlfriend Emi. To get freedom from Alison, Sarah goes to Beth's apartment to let Alison have the hidden camera to spy on Donnie. She and Felix go to Mrs. S's house where S agrees to let Sarah walk Kira home from school. Paul and Helena both follow and realize it isn't Beth. Delphine sleeps with and betrays Cosima, giving the full list of clone names to Leekie, including Rachel and Kira. Rachel demands the child be brought in as an anomaly. Evie Cho intends to implant Beth with a maggot-bot but is stopped by Leekie. Leekie tells Beth to lure Sarah and her daughter into a trap or Dyad will use the other sisters and may harm them. Beth returns to MK and Katja. While Beth is showing Cosima the video of the man killed by the maggot-bot; MK is shocked Beth told them about Rachel, fearing Helsinki will repeat. Evie Cho has her own plans to get to the Ledas and has Vic captured by Frank and Roxie while on his way to Felix's apartment; implanting Vic with a maggot-bot to make him comply. Finding Felix's apartment ransacked, Sarah and Felix go to Alison's house while she argues with Donnie about hiding things. MK hacks into Ferdinand's phone and poses as a seductive Rachel to lure him out.

Issue #5[]

Released October 11th 2017. Sarah and Alison use the camera to see Donnie sneak away at night; but on the day of the potluck an intoxicated Beth prevents Alison from confronting Donnie. Beth tries to warn Sarah but once she sees the footage of Sarah having sex with Paul she wants to fight her, with Felix caught in the middle. While the potluck goes on Felix is pulled in as a bartender and Alison shoves Donnie down the stairs in anger. Meanwhile, Cosima realizes Delphine works with Leekie but doesn't confront her, instead secretly flying to Toronto to join the others. Vic crashes the potluck demanding Sarah and Kira come with him to the people that put an implant on his cheek; but Paul shows up. In the struggle, Paul unintentionally hits the Maggot-Bot in Vic's cheek which kills him in front of Sarah, Alison, Beth, Paul, Donnie and Felix. As Alison goes to talk with Donnie, and Paul offers to cover up Vic's death: he says he doesn't know why he was paid to monitor Beth. Helena is watching the house from afar, proud that she is being led to the sheep. MK lures Ferdinand to Toronto, but he gets suspicious and calls the real Rachel before he is in range of MK's bomb. Sarah cons Beth's bank to get money to run away with Kira and Felix but is told that "she" took Kira from school that day. Sarah is forced to tell Siobhan about the clones, introducing Beth and Katja. They learn of Siobhan's pipeline of children in the black. Rachel is the one who has taken Kira.

Issue #6[]

Released December 20th 2017. Realizing what has happened: Beth and Sarah switch places with the intent of going to Dyad and having "Beth" take Kira while Dyad can study "Sarah." MK can make an escape route afterwards for Beth-as-Sarah. Sarah gets a gun from Alison. Cosima is captured while spying outside Dyad. Leekie intends to send Delphine away to Frankfurt before a monitor calls him away. Helena attacks Beth again, but MK saves her and agrees to help. Delphine apologizes to Cosima and helps her escape with Kira; running into MK. While Rachel meets with "Sarah" and "Beth;" "Beth" threatens to shoot them both if Kira isn't given to her. With Kira already gone, "Sarah" is able to distract Rachel by saying Susan Duncan is alive at BrightBorn. Donnie meets with Leekie in anger, accidentally crashing the car and killing Leekie. Rachel meets with Ferdinand at her office and they see a present near the desk. Helena waits on the roof with a rifle, watching as Delphine, Cosima and Kira run out to Felix, Siobhan and Katja. MK's bomb destroys part of the building, killing Rachel and Ferdinand. As MK slips away Sarah and Beth run outside. Helena gets revenge for Maggie by shooting the one who looks like Beth; but is horrified when she realizes she killed Sarah instead, right in front of Kira and her family. Later at Siobhan's house Cosima says Delphine will protect them as the new Dyad CEO. Upstairs, Kira wants revenge on those who hurt her mother and sisters and Helena offers to teach her. Beth goes upstairs to find the bedroom empty, screaming Kira's name out the open window.

Series 04: Crazy Science[]

Crazy Science would have taken place after the end of the fifth season of the TV series. It would have starred Cosima and Delphine traveling around the world to cure 274 Leda clones while also falling even more in love.^[11] However, the series was cancelled in June 2018 due to low orders from comic shops. Due to an early printing deadline, the first issue was still released in July.^[12]

Characters[]

The characters presented in the first issue of the comic book series are the first season's prominent regular and recurring characters. Orphan Black #1 presents four clones—Sarah Manning, Elizabeth Childs, Katja Obinger, and Helena—in addition to non-clone characters such as Siobhan Sadler, Kira Manning, Felix Dawkins, Paul Dierden, Detective Arthur "Art" Bell, Lieutenant Gavin Hardcastle, and Amelia.

Tie-ins to the television series[]

The comic book miniseries was conceived as a way to convey information about the clones' pasts and childhoods without interrupting the fast pace of the television series. It is presented as an expanded universe that offers off-screen events not shown in the episodes.^[1][13] The comic books tie directly into the events of the show's first season in order to ground the comics into the already-established universe.^[13] The miniseries presents the audience with the opportunity to better understand the emotions, thoughts, and feelings that underlie the characters of the television series.^[7][13]

References[]