We’ve known for a long while now that Mass Effect 3 was to end the Commander Shepard storyline, and that Mass Effect 4, whenever it might actually arrive, would start something new. This is understandable; three games with the same main character is enough and they want to move on to fresh new things.

But now comes word that the next game, which will likely start another trilogy story arc, will not only not have Commander Shepard, but that it will likely not have anything to do with any of Shepard’s companions or the events of the original trilogy at all.

Continue reading to see what Mass Effect lead writer Mac Walters had to say about the future of the series.

Mass Effect: Foundation #2
Written by Mac Walters
Art by Tony Parker
Colored by Michael Atiyeh
Lettered by Michael Heisler
Covers by Benjamin Carré
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 28, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

In Mass Effect: Foundation #2, we are brought through a day at the citadel. Wrex and Rasa separately are trying to track down Mr. Fist. With Rasa’s purpose to delay Wrex, whose aim is to kill Mr. Fist. Wrex though is having fun fighting through the “distractions” and by distractions, I mean thugs and hired killers.

The writing in this issue is great and flows amazingly well. The story is easy to follow, and not particularly long. This is a much more engaging story than the first issue.

Mass Effect: Foundation #1
Written by Mac Walters
Art by Omar Francia
Colored by Michael Atiyeh
Lettered by Michael Heisler
Covers by Benjamin Carré
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: July 24, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Mass Effect: Foundation #1 is the first of a 13-part series based on the popular science fiction video game franchise, Mass Effect. Written by Mac Walters and illustrated by Omar Francia, the story takes place 22 years before the first game, looking into the past to establish the origin story for what we can assume will be the main character going forward.

The comic has potential but has a few flaws. The story seems a bit forced and the dialogue more suited for a video game than a comic. The art is inconsistent in a way that seems almost detrimental to the flow. It also didn’t help with following the plot and catching all the exposition. There is nothing particularly great about it, and the problems I mentioned aren’t very obvious, but they are when you read it more than once.