Review: Star Trek #1

Assumptions! We all have them. When it comes to the world of the funny books, we get played on our assumptions. Magazines like Previews set the assumption wheels in motion. That is followed by the social media coverage, which may show variant covers; and we all know what we do when we see a cover, right? Case in point, a multi-generational Star Trek books screams IDW’s trip once more into Trek’s multiverse. I am glad that I am wrong, at least at this very early juncture.

On Deep Space 9, time has moved on since Captain Benjamin Sisko’s entry into the temple of the Prophets. Now he has returned with a quest from the Gods to which he needs to call in some not quite favours and obtain a starship. Though to paraphrase a certain. older Captain, “why would an Emissary of God need a starship?”

This new ongoing series is the brainchild of Star Trek: Year Five writers Colin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing who bring a couple of familiar friends into Sisko’s mission. First off, we Commander Data along with Spot. Data is a fan favourite and is “requested” to join the crew to curb Sisko’s more emotional aspects. Thing is, I see Sisko as more cerebral so this doesn’t quite seem right. Throw in everyones favourite time displace engineer in Scotty, Dr Beverley Crusher, the always annoying Tom Paris and a few new faces and we have ourselves a crew. Together they set out to boldly save the Gods of the universe. The pair have worked together long enough to know each others trends and writing ticks. This issue is a bit of a slog, verbiage wise, but other than one page, the dialogue zips along nicely enough if not warp speed, three quarters impulse at least. The pair have Sisko’s mood down well; cast your mind back to when Sisko was having the visions of the Bajoran monolith and his announcement that the Bajorans shouldn’t join the federation; thats the Sisko on show here.

The art is provided by Ramon Rosanas who recognises that to be successful on a TV-tie in book, you have to make the effort to make the characters look like themselves. In this regards, Rosanas is only partially on point, doing a great job with Sisko and Picard, but losing something when it comes to Dat and Paris with the color scheme the only major differentiation. Rosanas does better with locales, be it DS9 or the USS Theseus. Having mention the color scheme, Lee Loughridge does a fantastic job on the book, especially the third act which gives the book its main thrust. Clayton Cowles provides the letters, so you know that not even that page with the heavy Sisko speech is going to affect the art or pacing. Still, despite his excellent work, Cowles still does not get a cover credit!

This book is based on an interesting idea; who is killing the Gods of the Star Trek universe. Gods and religion particularly have been fertile ground for Trek in the past, for good and bad. This is an ongoing series with a quest at its core. As with every book with a quest as its core keeping that interest going can be a bit of hard slog. “Where no one has gone before'” at least has the idea of new things. Sure, I guess there will still be the new “no one gone before” as the crew looks to save the creators.

Writing – 3.5 Stars
Art – 3 Stars
Colors – 3.5 Stars

Overall – 3.5 Stars

Written by; Colin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing
Art by; Ramon Rosanas
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Letters by; Clayton Cowles
Published by; IDWPublishing

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network