Starship Troopers: Insect Touch

Starship Troopers: Insect Touch is a 3-part comic series published by Dark Horse Comics in May, 1997. It is part of the Starship Troopers film universe.

Storyline[]

Issue one[]

The first issue of Insect Touch opens with a summer on Mars, where the temperature plunges to 90 below zero. The atmosphere is thin, filled with carbon dioxide, and too cold for anything to burn properly. The narration explains that if you launch an object from light years away and instruct it to use Mars' atmosphere to slow down, it won't burn much, but it will burn. What it won't do, however, is effectively brake because the atmosphere is too thin. As this is explained, an object hurtles through the Martian sky, eventually crashing into the planet. The comic then reveals a crater filled with arachnid eggs and the twisted, broken bodies of arachnids. This scene is set 30 years before the First Bug War, during humanity's first contact with the arachnids, who at this time remain unknown to us.

The story then cuts to a feed from the Federal Military Communications Network, showing the crater where the object landed. A decrypted bulletin reads: "ALIEN BIOLOGICAL ENTITIES. LANDFALL MARS HELLAS PLANITIA. 322/-46 RANKING. FED MARS COM OFFICER HAS SECURED SCENE; REQUEST FED MILITARY SUPPORT. CHIEFS OF STAFF EMERGENCY SUMMIT UNDER MAJESTIC SECURITY. INVASION PROTOCOLS INVOKED. ATTENDANCE MANDATORY. WAR POWERS INVOKED."

The scene shifts to an emergency summit where it's revealed that the crater contains a cluster of eggs, surrounded by biological entities fused together against the vacuum of space. Their tough hides allowed them to survive aerobraking and achieve a controlled atmospheric entry. It's mentioned that if the Martian air had been 200 millibars thicker, the entry would have been successful on its second pass. Humanity narrowly avoided colonization by an unknown alien race. It’s at this point that the object is identified as coming from Klendathu.

The narrative then informs us that, as of the previous year, advancements in propulsion science have made Klendathu reachable from Earth. The meeting concludes with a decision to keep this event secret from the general public and the world government. Another resolution calls for assembling a covert contact team to be sent to Klendathu to gather intelligence on the alien culture and, if possible, make first contact while resources are still available. A man smoking a cigar remarks that things were easier in the old days; if a government was faltering, you could simply invoke war to boost the economy. Another man questions why the operation must remain covert, arguing that the news is monumental. The cigar-smoking man replies that it’s not just big news, it’s a massive fright. Whether they realize it or not, people still live primitively—in tribes. He continues, saying that although we may now be one large tribe huddled around the same campfire, we’re still afraid of what prowls beyond the firelight. Anything outside the tribe instills fear. He concludes by pointing out that the last thing humanity needs is a species-wide panic, as the Federation itself is barely holding together, evidenced by militias bombing buildings in Washington due to rationing.

The comic then transitions to the ship Cortez, one year later. Second pilot Haggard calls for first pilot Bulfinch to wake up, announcing that they are ready to cut the main engines as they approach the Klendathu System. Bulfinch alerts the crew and summons team leader and intelligence analyst Seine to the bridge, informing him that protocol requires his authorization to activate the listening systems. Seine replies, "Let’s hear what our galactic neighbors talk about when at home," and Bulfinch activates the listening systems. However, they hear nothing. Seine questions Bulfinch about whether the equipment is functioning properly, and Bulfinch confirms that it is. Perplexed, Seine asks, "No radio transmissions? No communication of any kind? An imperialist, spacefaring species without long-distance communication?" Seine then calls over their psychologist, Diaz, to develop a psychological profile and informs her that the aliens have no long-range communication, asking for her theories. Diaz suggests that the civilization might be so rigid and authoritarian that communication, except at close range, is forbidden. She also proposes that the culture may only acknowledge communication between equals.

Seine is then informed that Klendathu is directly ahead and is asked if they should land. He responds that they should remain in the asteroid field and send probes to orbit and survey the surface to gather intelligence from a distance, expressing unease about the planet's silence. Probes are launched, and Bulfinch asks Seine if they are absolutely certain they are in the right place, to which Seine affirms that this was the origin point of the Mars object. Bulfinch remarks that any ship capable of traveling beyond Mars would leave a detectable noise trail—old intrasolar vessels left radiation in their wake, but interstellar ships generate electromagnetic distortion. He notes that the listening systems should have picked up at least some white noise unless the aliens either lack space travel or were never on Klendathu. Bulfinch then steps away from the bridge to monitor Seine’s displays, designating Haggard as the acting captain for a few hours. Seine returns to Bay One to observe the analysis arrays undisturbed.

The scene shifts to Bulfinch screaming and lying on the floor, which is covered in orange vomit. Seine rushes in to find Bulfinch muttering repeatedly, "Eating and screwing." Seine quickly calls for their medic and xenobiologist, Lobengula, who arrives with a medical kit and attempts to assist Bulfinch, who remains in a trance, repeating, "Eating and screwing." Meanwhile, Seine notices that all but one of their probes have been knocked out, with the remaining probe transmitting what appears to be garbled data—dimensions, speed, mass, and some form of triangulation. He then realizes that the data is describing an asteroid heading straight for the Cortez from Klendathu. The comic cuts to an image of the asteroid, just meters away from the ship.

Issue two[]

The second issue of Insect Touch picks up where the previous issue left off, with an asteroid seemingly just meters away from the Cortez. Seine informs Haggard that the next decision is hers to make, as she has assumed the role of first pilot following Bulfinch's incapacitation. Haggard swiftly powers up the engines and activates the main drives, propelling the Cortez out of the asteroid's path. Diaz suggests that they are moving out of the danger zone, to which Haggard responds with a pool analogy: when you break and send the cue ball into a cluster of balls, they scatter. The same principle applies in an asteroid field. After enduring a few impacts, the Cortez clears the asteroid field. Seine then asks Diaz for a damage report. Diaz reports that the hull integrity is holding despite minor breaches, which have been sealed off, and that auto-repair systems are compensating. She also notes that the main drive and weapon systems are down, with the auto-repair systems running diagnostics on them. Seine acknowledges that, until those systems are restored, they are essentially sitting ducks in orbit, and admits they have only one option—land on Klendathu and proceed with first contact. He orders Haggard to prep the drop shuttle for immediate deployment and instructs the Mobile Infantry soldiers in Bay Three to prepare for drop.

As preparations are underway, Lobengula protests not being included in the landing party as the xenobiologist, but Seine reminds him that he is also the team medic and is needed to care for Bulfinch in his current condition. When asked about Bulfinch's status, Lobengula informs Seine that he is under heavy sedation and believes his condition is temporary, with a full mental recovery expected. Seine then suggests that Lobengula try to access the probe data to decipher what "screwing and eating" might mean, to which Lobengula responds that it may take some time since Bulfinch randomly dumped the data into the mainframe memory.

During descent, it is noted that Klendathu has a G-3 type atmosphere—earth standard. Haggard asks the Cortez if there is a suitable landing site, and the Cortez responds by sending coordinates from one of the probes that went dark. Upon landing, the Mobile Infantry soldiers—including Seine and Diaz—in the back of the dropship prepare for deployment. Seine then informs Harpur that he has tactical command in case of a hostile first contact. Two soldiers, Sergeant Kernahan and Corporal Detzer, are ordered to take their squads out and secure the landing zone. Diaz and Haggard express doubts about their safety in the hands of the Mobile Infantry.

Outside the ship, Private Rasczak asks Private Carroll if he’s ever been to Wyoming. When Carroll replies that he hasn’t, Rasczak mentions that the planet reminds him of Wyoming, referencing the filming location used for the movie. A soldier, Private McShane, then calls out to Kernahan, reporting that he has found one of the Cortez’s probes in a crater. Kernahan radios Lieutenant Harpur to inform him, and Harpur orders him to dig the probe out and bring it back to the shuttle, hoping one of the civilians can extract data from its instruments. Seine, uneasy, points out that the probes are designed for soft landings and questions why it’s buried in the ground. He then orders Harpur to pull his team back to the shuttle, but Harpur insists that he has tactical command.

Aboard the drop shuttle, Diaz alerts the soldiers that the onboard gyros are detecting a seismic disturbance, but she can’t pinpoint its source—it’s coming from all around them. Seine then asserts command authority, taking control of the mission, and orders Kernahan to get everyone back aboard the ship. As Privates McShane and Shepherd attempt to retrieve the probe, an arachnid warrior suddenly tunnels out from beneath it, impaling both soldiers. Carroll moves to assist them, but Rasczak stops him, pointing out that they have their own problems as arachnids begin to encircle them.

Seine again orders a retreat, this time directing Corporal Detzer, who can only manage to report that Shepherd has been ripped in half. Overcome with guilt, Harpur declares that since he sent his people out there, he’ll be the one to bring them back. Seine protests, and Diaz warns that the seismic activity is intensifying, this time directly beneath the dropship. As the ground crumbles, the back end of the ship collapses into a sinkhole. In the chaos, Harpur is thrown from the ship, landing just inches away from a Morita rifle. As he reaches for it, an arachnid warrior steps in front of him, ready to strike. Seine opens fire on the arachnid, and a rain of bullets from above helps finish it off. Looking up, Seine sees Rasczak standing atop the drop ship, gun in hand. Rasczak then calls out to Detzer, Carroll, and Private Yano to disengage and fall back, as the shuttle is now secure and covering fire is possible. However, as Yano makes his way back to the ship, he is caught from behind. With the last men safely inside, Rasczak orders the hatch sealed, and Seine commands the ship to launch into orbit.

Unfortunately, Haggard reports that the engines won’t ignite—the impact must have knocked out their flight systems. Seine asks how long it will take for the auto-repair systems to activate, only for Haggard to reply, "What auto-repair systems?" Seine then radios Lobengula aboard the Cortez, informing him of the problem. Lobengula, who has been monitoring their communications via the orbital uplink, responds that he’s aware of the situation and adds that he has an intel update—one that Seine isn’t going to like. He explains that he found the data Bulfinch saw on the monitor screens, revealing several breeding sites located on the planet’s surface. Lobengula elaborates that the creatures follow classic hive-insect species behavior patterns, breeding in the thousands. He further explains that the creatures they’ve encountered appear to be a warrior subclass, who fight before mating to ensure only the strongest survive to breed. He then informs Seine that their dropship is sitting directly on one of these breeding sites and suggests that the creatures they just encountered were likely advance scouts, sent ahead to survey the area before the start of a new mating cycle.

As Lobengula explains this, another wave of seismic activity hits, and Diaz notes that the readings for the entire canyon floor are off the scale. Suddenly, thousands of arachnid warriors emerge, striking fear and disgust in the crew inside the dropship. Rasczak makes his way into the cockpit and grimly points out that they’re trapped at the bottom of a canyon filled with screaming bugs that don’t seem to notice them—yet. He then asks if anyone has considered what will happen once the breeding stops and the creatures realize they’re not alone, causing everyone to turn and stare in fear.

Issue three[]

The third issue of Insect Touch picks up where issue two left off, with Seine radioing Lobengula for more insight into their situation. Lobengula responds, confirming that he’s still analyzing the visual data from the probes, and remarks that he can only imagine what the team planetside is enduring. He observes that the arachnids are clearly preparing for war, mass breeding their warrior class in anticipation of a confrontation with an enemy they hadn’t encountered until now—humanity. Lobengula grimly notes that they must assume the object that struck Mars was merely the first wave of their intended assault on Earth. He stresses the urgency of returning to Earth immediately with the intelligence they’ve gathered. He then lays out two bleak options for the team on the planet’s surface: either they leave the craft and perform external repairs on the propulsion system while the arachnids are still preoccupied with breeding, or they risk being left behind. Seine acknowledges this, stating that he would make the same call if he were in Lobengula’s position.

Seine then calls Corporal Detzer, informing him that with Harpur and Kernahan gone, he is next in the chain of command. He asks Detzer if he’s ready for re-deployment, but before he can answer, a nervous stammer is interrupted by Private Rasczak, who asserts that they’re ready and asks what needs to be done. Seine tells Rasczak that they’re heading back outside and that he needs the Mobile Infantry to buy them some time while his team works on getting the lifter systems back online. He instructs Diaz to stay aboard, but is interrupted by Haggard, who questions whether he wants her outside since she’s the only one qualified to repair the lifters. She expresses fear that the arachnids will kill her, but Seine reassures her that he won’t allow any more of his people to die at the hands of the arachnids.

Returning to the bay, Seine notices the Mobile Infantry soldiers unpacking something from a large box marked with ionizing radiation symbols. He asks Private Rasczak what they’re handling, pointing out that he thought he was familiar with every item on the cargo manifest as the team leader. Taking one of the objects in hand, Rasczak reveals that it’s a prototype M-85 tac-nuke missile launcher, explaining that it doesn’t appear on the manifest because it technically doesn’t exist yet. He then adds that the Mobile Infantry brought them along as "insurance."

Diaz protests, arguing that they don’t even know the full effects of the weapons, but is quickly cut off by Rasczak, who challenges her to suggest an alternative. He then reassures her that the warhead payload is low-yield, with minimal radiation effect. Seine supports Rasczak's assessment and asks if everyone is ready. He then orders Haggard to stay close and opens the door, ensuring that Haggard stands aside so the military unit can cut a path through the enemy for them to follow.

Rasczak, Detzer, and Carroll blast their way through the arachnids, clearing the immediate area and spreading out to secure it. As Carroll and Rasczak make their way to a nearby ridge, Carroll muses whether they could just stand back and let the arachnids finish each other off, noting the destruction they’ve already wrought upon one another. Rasczak dismisses the idea, pointing out that the arachnids seem to be almost done with their infighting, and once they’re finished, they’ll start noticing the humans in their midst.

Rasczak glances back toward the ship and shouts at Seine to hurry. He then spots three arachnids climbing over the top of the hull and alerts Detzer, who responds that he already has them in sight and opens fire. Detzer then instructs Rasczak and Carroll to focus on securing the area around the shuttle while he covers Seine and Haggard. With the situation escalating, Detzer orders Seine and Haggard to move forward, promising to provide covering fire.

As they move toward the back end of the ship, where it has sunk into the sinkhole, Seine asks Haggard if she can actually bring the lifter systems back online. Haggard confidently assures him that if it’s just an electronics issue, she can handle it. Before she can finish her sentence, an arachnid lunges at her from below. Seine and Detzer swiftly open fire, killing the creature. Seine turns to Haggard and urgently tells her to get it done and get what’s left of his team off that planet.

The scene shifts back to the ridge, where Rasczak and Carroll are stationed. Rasczak, now wielding a tac-nuke missile launcher, is alerted by Diaz that the arachnids have started noticing the humans. Rasczak acknowledges this, confirming he sees the approaching horde. He then warns the team to keep their heads down and avoid looking at the bright light. With that, he launches the nuke, and an explosion engulfs the swarm. Carroll, eager for her turn, gleefully takes her own launcher and fires a nuke at the remaining arachnids. Meanwhile, Rasczak radios Seine for an update. Seine reports that the sinkhole appears to be part of a tunnel network teeming with arachnids and asks Haggard for a status update. Haggard confirms she’s got it under control and asks Diaz for verification.

Once Diaz confirms, Seine orders everyone to retreat back to the ship. As they make their way back, an arachnid catches Detzer and Seine off guard. The creature decapitates Detzer and throws Seine to the ground. Haggard pauses and looks back, but Seine orders her to keep moving. Struggling to his feet, Seine grabs a nuke missile launcher from Detzer's body and fires it, sacrificing himself in a massive explosion. The blast hurls Haggard to the ground above the sinkhole, where she is then impaled by an arachnid warrior. Before it can do more damage, Rasczak guns it down. Realizing they’ve lost their designated pilot, Rasczak suggests to Carroll that they retreat to the ship for a final stand. But just then, a pair of mandibles burst from below, impaling Carroll. Rasczak, desperate to save her, tries to pull her free, but only succeeds in getting her torn in half, her body tossed aside like a ragdoll.

Determined, Rasczak scrambles the rest of the way to the ship, where Diaz is waiting to seal the hatch. As he leaps into the ship, an arachnid warrior grabs his hand with its mandibles, trying to drag him back out. Rasczak, seeing no other option, orders Diaz to seal the hatch. Diaz hesitates, fearing she’ll sever his arm in the process, but Rasczak insists. Reluctantly, Diaz obeys, and the hatch closes, severing Rasczak's forearm.

Panicking, Diaz radios Lobengula, frantically informing him that everyone except her and Rasczak are dead, and they can’t take off without a pilot. Lobengula calmly reassures her that he anticipated this and has a contingency plan in place. He instructs Diaz to head to the cockpit and activate the auto-pilot systems, explaining that Bulfinch will remotely pilot the shuttle via a VR uplink from the flight deck of the Cortez. Following his directions, Bulfinch engages the lifter systems, and the shuttle launches into the sky.

As the shuttle ascends, Diaz warns Lobengula that there are still arachnids clinging to the hull, attempting to tear their way inside. Lobengula tells her to leave everything to Bulfinch. As Bulfinch engages the main drive, the heat shields begin to malfunction, their efficiency quickly plummeting from 58.63% to 32.83%, then down to 17.51% as the ship pushes through the atmosphere, burning the arachnids off the hull. Despite the critical drop in heat shield integrity and the ship's warning alarms, they manage to clear the atmosphere and initiate docking procedures.

Lobengula then informs Diaz that she’s being brought in remotely and assures her that he’ll meet her at the shuttle bay. She tells him that Rasczak is injured and she’s done what she can, but he needs immediate medical attention. Lobengula replies that Rasczak won’t be alone.

Later, Diaz visits the med bay to check on both Rasczak and Bulfinch. Bulfinch had not fully recovered before remotely piloting the ship, and Lobengula informs her that Rasczak’s arm can be replaced. He adds that Bulfinch may prove useful to the federal military in the near future. Diaz asks if he really believes the situation will deteriorate that badly, to which Lobengula replies, “Absolutely.” He explains that this is merely the first skirmish between two ambitious and mutually antagonistic imperialistic species. He concludes by stating that humanity was fortunate this time because the arachnids had never encountered technological weaponry before, but warns that they’re intelligent, adaptable, and driven by a unified racial purpose, which is their advantage over humanity.

Creative team[]

Plot: Gordon Rennie and Warren Ellis
Script: Gordon Rennie
Art: Davidé Fabbri and Paolo Parente
Color: David Stewart, Jason Hvam, John Hanan III, Geneva Smith, and Brian Gregory
Lettering: John Costanza
Cover art: Paolo Parente
Design: Scott Tice
Editing: Dave Chipps
Publishing: Mike Richardson

Notes[]

Continuity notes[]

Issues[]

Insect Touch issue 1
Insect Touch issue 2
Insect Touch issue 3

Collections[]

Insect Touch is collected in the Starship Troopers trade paperback, along with the two-issue adaptation of the film, published by Dark Horse Comics in July 1998.