Review by Karl Verhoven

Youngsters Jimmil, Felix, Nishika and Teiran are learning to be spacecraft staff aboard the ESS Khonsu, captained by Jimmil’s mother. Contact! saw them as voices of common sense in averting a war with another species, and they’ve been joined by Bobby as the first alien cadet.

A little time has passed during which the cadets have progressed, and in Accused! they’re given a mission. The Khonsu wants to make contact with a reluctant alien race, and feel a way of doing so is have the cadets befriend one of the Batracian youngsters, Delarax. It’s an intimidating prospect, made more so when it’s discovered Delarax is pompous and utterly believes in the infinite superiority of his race and its achievements. “Yes, Teiran Schaffer, it is a great honor to meet me” is a hardly a sign that the cadets are in for a fun time.

Much of the first volume depended on a sense of familiarity to the background concept, which was Star Trek in all but name. The world is still very similar to that of Star Trek, but there’s greater originality within that from writer Ben Crane and more good ideas in passing, as seen on Andy Alvez’s sample page. The Batracians are good creations, immensely proud and self-sufficient, but not as capable as they believe, and reluctant to accept help as that would shame their sense of honour. It seems for a while as if Bobby has served his role in Contact! and is surplus to requirement here, but he does have a purpose.

As before, Alvez keeps the art simple and crowded, but with an emphasis on personality. Delarax is well designed as a dumpy chap with big expressive eyes, and because other races have a growing importance, as the story continues thought is also applied to their design.

The title comes into play as the cadets find themselves accused of stealing a museum artefact. The Batracians won’t consider alternatives, never mind evidence, as the presence of strangers is reason enough. More distressing elements of their culture are eventually revealed as Crane investigates imperialism in terms young readers can understand. The question becomes whether or not it’s well-intentioned as Crane works the young cadets to a diplomatic solution.

Perhaps the eventual results are a little far fetched, but this is an improvement on a good first Cosmic Cadets, and suggest a solid franchise set to run.