Review by Karl Verhoven

The world of Star Trek is a definite starting point for Ben Crane as he introduces Jimmil, son of a starship captain and a cadet in training. He’s enthusiastic, but as yet far short of mastering the skills needed to ensure he’ll progress. What he does have, though, is tenacity, and when visiting a planet showing as uninhabited on the ship’s scanners he becomes convinced there is intelligent life. With some classmates, Jimmil sets off to investigate. “This is the greatest adventure in history and you want to give up without even trying?”, is his encouragement to them.

Both the familiar setting and the familiar plot of children ignoring the advice of adults in order to prove themselves will ease younger readers into what rapidly escalates into a considerable threat. Here again Crane resorts to the familiar by having the youngsters work out an understanding while the adults piling in, guns blazing, solves nothing. That’s also a clever nod back to the opening pages when Jimmil learned that lesson himself.

Mimi Alvez delivers the art in a sketchy style, concentrating on the people for the most part, leaving the colouring of Priscilla Tramontano to add the depth and contrast. The aliens have a very particular talent, and it’s the colours bringing this through rather than the art, and it’s where the visuals impresses most.

Once the problem has been revealed, the cadets have to share attention with the older crew as Crane builds suspense by showing them as the threat. Less predictably, the wild card element is the aliens and what they can do, which is the most consistently original aspect of Cosmic Cadets. Character based and largely good-natured, the strongest chapter is the desperate battle for understanding at the end. Part bonding story, part coming of age and part message of tolerance wearing its influence on its sleeve, this all-ages SF entertains by pushing common buttons. There’s more to come in Accused!