User blog comment:LilyheartsLightning/Author Ex Maraudia — A Review of Marauder Shields/@comment-2250460-20121007161635/@comment-68.224.17.121-20121030050513

It started off as a parody comic but then got really serious around episode 6. It even comes with detailed in-universe codex entries, well-written character interactions, and numerous references to other popular sci-fi series (such as Halo, Firefly, Bladerunner, etc.).

An audio-book series with fully licensed soundtracks has also been produced for a few of the more popular issues. The voice acting in them are really well done and almost makes you forget at time that this is fan material that is available for free.

I don't care if the OP of this blog nitpicks and nerdrages at all the lore-whatever in the Marauder Shields comics. Because there is one thing that the comics have done that Bioware themselves couldn't do: bring the ME2 characters back to the front line and give them the screen time they deserve during Priority: Earth.

The series isn't over yet; it's actually at its climatic point right now where *spoilers* Thane appears in Shepard's dream and helps to push him/her forward to the final battle. And then a lot of other stuff is happening in the background, like Jack and her biotic students getting some screen time, Virmire Survivor leading troops, etc. The situation back at the Citadel since the arms had been closed (Aria, Bailey, and a bunch of elcors join the fight and keep the citizens safe from Cerberus and Reaper forces).

The comics shows you what's happening at every combat zone while Shepard's main team tries to make it through No-Man's Land and into the Crucible. It's like the Virmire mission and suicide mission all rolled in one, but x9000. Pretty freaking epic for what started out as a parody comic. Honestly, I didn't care about the comics at first and now regret that I didn't read them earlier. It's nice to see all the War Assets I've gathered finally see some closure.