Star Trek #400 [Part Two] - IDW Publishing

STAR TREK No. 400, September 2022

Starting with a narrative centred upon a character who “was unpopular among more than a few Star Trek fans” during “The New Generation” era, Wil Wheaton’s arguably self-indulgent storyline “A Matter Of Choice” probably isn’t as exciting a start to this comic’s second half as the actor-turned-YouTube-host probably hoped. In fact, the incredibly word-heavy narrative must surely have tested the patience of even the most ardent Trekkie, especially when at times the numerous word balloons seemingly threaten to blot out everything but the most basic-looking figure’s face in any given panel.

Disappointingly however, there’s debatably very little reward at the tale’s end either, as after an eight-page long series of dialogue-lead sedentary scenes where an omnipotent Wesley Crusher revisits several moments in his past where his shipmates have previously offered him advice, he simply decides to do what he planned to do in the first place. Such a lack-lustre conclusion may well cause some readers to scratch their heads in bewilderment as to just why “the Traveller” bothered to pull an elderly Jean-Luc Picard out of the Kelvin Universe in the first place, let alone how him doing so might irreversibly damage existence's “complex crystalline structure that only holds itself together through the most delicate balance.”

Perhaps this anthology’s most bemusing adventure though is the kid-friendly fracas between “Keyla Detmer, the Starfleeter” and an adolescent Chancellor of the Klingon High Council. Written by Mike Johnson and sketched by Megan Levens, this meeting between two crash survivors smacks of the sort of juvenile humour a reader might expect in a children’s comic for young readers, and appears an odd choice of storyline to feature in a celebration of over fifty-years’ worth of serious science fiction; “Try it you shall and when you cannot stomach it, you shall declare me the superior lifeform and be on your way!”

Rounding off this publication with a blatant advertisement for the publisher’s upcoming new ongoing “Star Trek” title is “A Perfect System” by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly. Focusing upon the sudden disintegration of Gary Mitchell whilst the god-like entity is busily building solar systems, this pedestrian-paced piece even rather mercenarily ends with its final page featuring the former Federation helmsman’s skeleton floating in outer space with the words “To be Continued” “Star Trek #1” “Coming Soon” emblazoned between artist Ramon Rosanas’ well-pencilled panels.

The regular cover art to "STAR TREK" #400 by Louie De Martinis

Star Trek #400 [Part One] - IDW Publishing

STAR TREK No. 400, September 2022

Considering the sheer scope of Gene Roddenberry’s fifty-plus year-old science fiction franchise, “this collection of minis” by “IDW Publishing” may well have pleased some Trekkies out there, particularly as it’s opening storyline set at the very end of the original series’ movie run does such a good job in wrong-footing the reader with its conclusion. But by the time “this monumental issue” hits its mid-way stage, the quality of its penmanship is debatably somewhat deficient at best; “I needed a new differential octolithium re-compilerizer, and you needed a new phase-inducted piromactal teravertarium battery!”

To begin with however, Chris Eliopoulos’ “Captain’s Log” definitely delivers a thoroughly enjoyable summary of Captain James Tiberius Kirk’s adventures aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, and then rather cleverly hands over the baton to Hikaru Sulu commanding the U.S.S. Excelsior. Proficiently pencilled by Luke Sparrow, this nostalgic trip down memory lane contains many of the programme’s pivotal moments, such as the death of Spock, and then rather neatly leads into the senior helmsmen’s own adventures at the end of “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country”.

Similarly as successful is “Soldier On” by Declan Shalvey, which rather surprisingly provides an intriguing flashback to Petty Officer Miles O’Brien’s time on the planet Setlik III during the Federation/Cardassian War. Featuring both Captain Maxwell and the U.S.S. Rutledge, as well as a young Elim Garak, this reasonably straightforward tale of resupplying, sabotage and Obsidian Order obstinance is engagingly drawn in a quirky, somewhat cartoony style by Seth Damoose.

Closing out the first half of this “equal celebration of IDW’s Star Trek comics past and future” with a shockingly short, though still disconcerting yarn, is the five-panel long “Meanwhile…” Written by Mike Johnson and illustrated by Angel Hernandez, this brief glimpse of the Kelvin Universe’s Scotty shows just how unrecognisably dissimilar the “miracle working’ engineer has become from his former-self once Simon Pegg embodied the character on the silver screen. Perfectly happy to lazily sleep on the job and leave the Constitution-class starship’s repairs to an equally snooze-happy underling, this Montgomery Scott is a far cry from the decidedly dedicated incarnation played by Canadian actor James Doohan.

The regular cover art to "STAR TREK" #400 by Louie De Martinis

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Too Long A Sacrifice #4 - IDW Publishing

STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - TOO LONG A SACRIFICE No. 4, October 2020

Despite arguably containing a fair few red herrings, some brutal fisticuffs and sizzling phaser beams, it is still pretty unlikely that Scott and David Tipton’s supposedly “shocking conclusion” to this murder-mystery mini-series convinced the most recent generation of Trekkies to seek out the old televised adventures of Constable Odo and his crewmates aboard Deep Space Nine. For whilst this twenty-page periodical’s padded out plot provides the Starfleet station’s Chief of Security plenty of spotlight within which to demonstrate his formidable detective skills, the Federation facility’s cold-hearted serial-killer is eventually only seemingly caught because they’re foolish enough to get close to a telepath.

Indeed, if anything the brothers’ narrative for Issue Four of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice” depicts a hard-learnt lesson in how not to lead an investigation into multiple homicides during the Twenty-Fourth Century, as elderly mind-reader Detective Retlaw incompetently lurches from pillar to post before wrongly accusing one “of the most powerful and well connected people on the station.” To make matters worse though, the ordinarily fastidious Odo is no less ineffectual, and even bumbles the arrest of the terror suspect when the lone diner-owner takes on his technology advanced armed guards whilst carrying no more than a small kitchen knife; “Your security team won’t be enough. We’re going to need more help.”

Perhaps this publication’s biggest disappointment however, is the way in which all of the puzzle’s links are pulled together without there ever being a hope of the comic’s readers snatching hold of a clue themselves and even remotely suspecting who the psychopathic slayer might be. True, the elderly Betazoid’s explanation as to what he read in the murderer’s mind makes some sense, but it’s hard to stomach a ‘miss-mash’ of disconcerting contrivances, such as Lavin Meryn wooing a Starfleet officer in order to ensure he betrayed his allegiance, simply because she was uppity with a fellow Bajoran who during the Cardassian occupation played them against the Ferengi “to line his own pockets and earn himself a softer bed.”

Luckily, artist Greg Scott does provide this book with some enjoyable artwork from time to time, with his ability to project Retlaw’s emotions upon the character’s aged face being one of this magazine’s highlights. In fact, it’s a real pity that the Tiptons’ script didn’t include a bit more action, as the artist seems to hit a prodigious stride with his pencilling once Lavin takes flight and the pace of his layouts really hammers home the sheer desperation in her insane machinations.

Writers: Scott Tipton & David Tipton, Artist: Greg Scott, and Colorist by: Felipe Sobreiro

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Too Long A Sacrifice #3 - IDW Publishing

STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - TOO LONG A SACRIFICE No. 3, September 2020

As comic-long conversational pieces go, Scott and David Tipton’s narrative for Issue Three of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice” isn’t quite as plodding as it initially appears, thanks largely to the cold-blooded murder of a pair of unfortunate Ferengi “outside Docking Port Five.” However, up until this latest in a long line of despicable deaths on board the Federation facility, this twenty-page periodical arguably consists of nothing more than a disconcertingly word-heavy dialogue between Odo and Detective Retlaw, as the two men seemingly try to outdo one another in a bid to demonstrate their superior investigative ability.

Such a conversational piece may well have proved a pleasant enough sub-plot if penned in moderation, but sadly a good two-thirds of this publication follows the Changeling and “the past-his-prime” Starfleet official as they sip tea, criticise one another’s work ethics and generally try to score cheap points during their meanderings throughout Terok Nor. Indeed, even when this publication does suddenly reveal that Ensign Schroeder has been “greasing the wheels for the Nausicaans”, all the ‘odd couple’ do is talk some more about how the junior officer is inconveniently blocking Retlaw from reading his mind; “He’s… blocking me somehow. I have nothing. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but he’s keeping me out.”

Perhaps this book’s biggest disappointment though, is the so-called “shocking discovery” its publisher’s promised being that Vedek Teler is somehow connected to the series of murders. This surprise was arguably telegraphed straight from the mini-series’ opening instalment, and the only bombshell it drops is just how contrivingly poor a shot the mysterious killer suddenly becomes when the culprit unsuccessfully tries to assassinate Odo and the Betazoid in a deserted corridor, just before the pair pay the Bajoran religious leader a visit.

Luckily adding a little bit of animated life to the proceedings is Greg Scott’s pencilling, which genuinely seems to come to the fore when illustrating the craggy-faced, white-haired Retlaw. As expected, the artist does a competent job of depicting the science fiction franchise’s televised characters, yet somehow adds even more to the aged investigator’s personality, as he scowls and scolds his way through the space station’s considerable supporting cast.

Writers: Scott Tipton & David Tipton, Artist: Greg Scott, and Colorist by: Felipe Sobreiro

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Too Long A Sacrifice #2 - IDW Publishing

STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - TOO LONG A SACRIFICE No. 2, August 2020

Specifically placed “in the sixth season between One Little Ship and Honour Among Thieves”, Scott and David Tipton’s excellent script for Issue Two of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Too Long A Sacrifice” most assuredly must have caused fans of the television franchise to wish the storyline had actually been put in front of the cameras way back in the late Nineties. Indeed, the comic’s dialogue is so authentic sounding, and its characters so accurate to their broadcast counterparts, that it is genuinely difficult not to imagine this four-part mini-series as an actual official adaption of a transmitted two-hour adventure.

To begin with, the collaborative writers’ handling of Constable Odo is absolutely spot on just as soon as the Chief of Security makes an appearance, with actor Rene Auberjonois’ voice clearly emanating from each word balloon during a highly enjoyable interrogation of an outraged Quark. Thoughtful, precise, carefully contemplative, as well as brutally forthright in his opinions as to the dishonesty of his peers, the Changeling easily captures the attention throughout this twenty-page periodical, and even manages to maintain an off-screen presence whenever the focus momentarily moves away from his investigation on to some more action-orientated events, like the successful assassination of an entire Ferengi trade delegation.

The Tipton brothers’ handling of the rest of this book’s cast is equally as well portrayed too, with both Worf and Major Kira getting plenty of attention as they try to support Odo in his frustratingly difficult hunt for the space station’s mysterious killer/s. In fact, the Klingon’s suggestion to adopt a “more aggressive manner of questioning” provides one of the comic’s highlights as the Starfleet officer accompanies the Constable on a satisfying sting operation targeting this title’s duplicitous Nausicaans; “All the contraband traces back to you two. You pointing the finger at Quark was more about covering your own tracks.”

Greg Scott also helps imbue this publication with the slight suggestion its readers are looking at an old “Futura” photo-adventure novel rather than a run-of-a-mill comic book. Admittedly, the former "Gotham Central" artist’s work does arguably look a little rough around the edges in some of the layouts. But that clearly doesn’t stop him capturing a good likeness of the show’s leading cast, nor some of their endearing tell-tale looks at one another when things aren’t going to plan…

Writers: Scott Tipton & David Tipton, Artist: Greg Scott, and Colorist by: Felipe Sobreiro

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Too Long A Sacrifice #1 - IDW Publishing

STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - TOO LONG A SACRIFICE No. 1, April 2020

The second “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” comic released by “IDW Publishing”, this mini-series’ opening instalment may well disappoint those of the science fiction franchise’s fans who were expecting something of a fight-fest set during the Federation’s heavily destructive Dominion War. For whilst co-writer David Tipton has previously highlighted the fact that this twenty-page periodical is “set during the most difficult hours” of the major interstellar conflict, the entirety of this book’s storyline is actually based within the claustrophobic confines of the old Cardassian space station's promenade rather than some substantially-sized Alpha Quadrant battleground.

Fortunately however, the “legendary Star Trek scribes” have used this fairly limited locale to their advantage by penning an intriguing tale packed full of misdirection, intrigue, treachery and heroics. Indeed, such is the quality of Scott and David's story-telling that “Too Long A Sacrifice” quickly sucks its audience into its well-worded narrative, as if the publication itself were playing out before the readers’ eyes on the small screen; “A thousand pardons, my good Doctor Bashir. You know I’d never intentionally miss one of our lunches.”

Pleasingly, this comic’s plot also provides plenty of opportunity for almost all the television series’ leading cast to have at least one familiar moment, even the unscrupulous Garek, who once again manages to completely befuddle the station’s Chief Medical Officer by saving his life when the diner they’re eating in is suddenly blown sky high during a shocking terrorist attack. Chief O’Brien, Dax, Captain Sisko Quark and Worf all manage to help push Constable Odo’s politically sensitive investigation along, with perhaps this book’s highlight being the shape-changer and Klingon physically besting a pair of riled Nausicaans in the Constable’s office.

As a result this magazine’s only drawback is therefore some of Greg Scott’s illustrations, which whilst proficient in their portrayal of the action, appear disappointingly rough around the edges in several places. The comic’s aforementioned destructive opening sequence set inside Lavin’s Eatery is pencilled well enough, but by the time events have moved deeper into Odo’s inquiry as to the cowardly attack's potential suspects, the “noir artist” seems to be populating his panels with the vaguest of shapes, and relying far too heavily upon his audience’s familiarity with the characters to fill in the blanks…

Writers: Scott Tipton & David Tipton, Artist: Greg Scott, and Colorist by: Felipe Sobreiro

Star Trek: The Q Conflict #1 - IDW Publishing

STAR TREK: THE Q CONFLICT No. 1, January 2019

On paper the idea of a dispute between a handful of the universe’s godlike beings resulting in a head-to-head competition concerning “all of Starfleet’s best captains” probably seemed like a good one to “IDW Publishing” editor Chase Marotz when Scott and David Tipton’s synopsis for Issue One of “Star Trek: The Q Conflict” was first submitted. In fact, the notion of pitting the wits of James T. Kirk, Jean-Luc Picard, Kathryn Janeaway and Benjamin Siskin against one another with “the fate of the Earth and beyond” at stake arguably must have sounded like a lifelong dream to any comic collecting Trekkies able to get their hands on a copy of the “soon-to-be-classic six-part miniseries”.

However, this opening convergence of the Federation’s finest officers so as to “hold the galaxy together against insurmountable odds” arguably must have disappointed the majority of its 9,047 readers due to a lack-lustre plot which lamentably contains absolutely no action whatsoever, and whose sole highlight is the respective bridge crews politely greeting one another on the surface of a somewhat featureless alien planet; “Well, I don’t recognise the uniforms, but I certainly know Starfleet badges when I see them.”

Admittedly, long-time franchise fans would doubtless have gleaned some additional excitement from the all-too brief appearances of the “extremely advanced” Metrons, the playful Squire of Gothos and non-corporeal Organians towards the end of this book. But whilst the concept of the antagonistically arrogant "General Trelane, Retired" battling the Q Continuum for a ‘shot at supremacy’ makes perfect sense, it debatably seems entirely uncharacteristic for such notable peace-makers like the Beta Quadrant’s Organian Council of Elders to strive for such dominance in an egotistical encounter which has already seen “three to five Gorn colony worlds… lost, with casualties in the thousands.”

Mercifully, whilst the “Star Trek: The Next Generation: Mirror Broken” scribes’ storyline for this twenty-page periodical is unsatisfactorily sedentary, David Messina’s artwork is packed full of vibrant life and plenty of instantly recognisable nods to both the television series and motion pictures. Indeed, the excellent likenesses of all the numerous actors the Italian has crammed into this publication, along with all the different uniforms, equipment and technology, clearly shows just why the comic’s collaborative writing team believe he “did a first-rate job here.”

Written by: Scott Tipton & David Tipton, and Pencils by: David Messina