Review: Star Trek Vol. 1 by Mike Johnson, et al.

Star Trek Vol. 1
By: Mike Johnson, et al.
Publisher: IDW
ISBN: 978-1613771501

Review:

I wish I'd discovered the existence of IDW's comic series continuing the adventures of the Enterprise crew introduced in the 2009 re-boot -- it would've made the long wait for this year's sequel Into Darkness slightly more palatable. *wink* This first volume contains two stories, both based on episodes from the Classic Trek series -- "Where No Man Has Gone Before" and "The Galileo Seven." While my knowledge of all things Classic Trek is minuscule when compared to my love for the J.J. Abrams-helmed reboot, I love the idea of revisiting old tales and giving them a fresh spin with the new faces of the franchise. Therefore this post will be limited to my impressions of the stories as is, as I'm not yet in a position to compare this volume to the stories in their original, scripted television form.

The first story, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," is an excellent showcase for a still-green Captain Kirk to adjust to his new position and responsibilities on the Enterprise. There is some tension between his old, fun-loving Academy friends and his new crew mates, and Kirk's attempts to reconcile his well-known party-boy persona with his new responsibilities feels very much in keeping with Chris Pine's portrayal of the younger, brash Starfleet officer. The story ends on a fantastic note for fans of the Kirk-Spock friendship, as the ever-logical Vulcan responds to Kirk's difficult decision with an unexpected overture of friendship -- I loved that! The second story, "The Galileo Seven," features a more assured Kirk and instead focuses on this more human incarnation of Spock and his struggle to relate to and command respect from his wholly human subordinates. Anytime Spock is tested, pushed outside his comfort zone I'm going to love it, and this story delivers, including the Vulcan reaching a welcome accord with one wryly cynical doctor. :) It's nicely-done tale showcasing Spock's leadership skills and Kirk's loyalty to his crew.

Featuring gorgeous, detailed artwork, this volume not only fulfills my need to see more of the New Trek crew between their film appearances, but leaves me more eager than ever to continue my exploration of the Classic Trek television show.

About the book:

The adventures of the Starship Enterprise continue in this new series that picks up where the blockbuster 2009 film left off! Featuring the new cast of the film, these missions re-imagine the stories from the original series in the alternate timeline created by the film, along with new threats and characters never seen before! With creative collaboration from Star Trek writer/producer Roberto Orci, this new series begins the countdown to the much-anticipated movie sequel.

Review: Star Trek: Countdown by Mike Johnson, et al.

Star Trek: Countdown
By: Mike Johnson, et al.
Publisher: IDW
ISBN: 978-160010420-6

Review:

Star Trek: Countdown was released as the official graphic novel prequel to the 2009 film that relaunched the franchise -- and kick-started my own love affair with the classic characters of Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise crew. This slim volume is a fast read, taking place entirely within the confines of the "classic Trek" universe, detailing the threat that leads to the Romulan Nero's single-minded quest to destroy everything Spock holds dear. While I first fell in love with the Star Trek universe thanks to the film that follows the story laid out in this volume, it wasn't until Into Darkness was released that my new-found love for the characters in the Trek universe blossomed into a full-blown obsession that drove me to seek out ancillary product like this graphic novel.

The artwork is gorgeous -- I particularly appreciated the detailed renderings of an older Spock Prime and the evolution the Eric Bana-portrayed Nero undergoes, from dedicated family man to vigilante. While the actual mechanics of the star's implosion and the use of "red matter" is thinly-realized at best, I appreciated the perspective and backstory on the classic universe developments which led to the events that unfold in the new-Trek universe in the Abrams film. There's the Vulcan/Romulan tension that Spock Prime has been working so hard to diffuse, and welcome appearances from The Next Generation characters such as the Enterprise's erstwhile Captain and now Ambassador Picard, Geordi, Worf, and the ever-logical Data. Having laid the groundwork for the re-booted characters I've come to love, I look forward to exploring further volumes in this series!

About the book:

The countdown to the motion picture event of 2009 begins here, in the exclusive graphic novel prequel to Star Trek, the upcoming blockbuster film from Paramount Pictures!

JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Mike Johnson, Tim Jones, and David Messina present the origin of Nero, the mysterious Romulan who will ultimately threaten the survival of the entire universe. Don't miss this story that brings Star Trek back to the big screen!