Villordsutch reviews Star Trek #55…
This all-new story set in the universe of the new STAR TREK films celebrates the life of the most iconic character of them all: Leonard Nimoy’s SPOCK. In Part 1 of this 4-part epic, the elder Spock joins the last survivors of Vulcan to search the galaxy for a new homeworld!
It has been just over a year since the great Leonard Nimoy left our mortal coil and travelled off into the undiscovered country, abd it seems right that something rather special should be done to celebrate one of his most iconic roles. With this Mike Johnson puts the pen to paper and begins a four-part special titled the Legacy of Spock.
We return back to 2258 and we meet up with Spock and Spock Prime as the elder advises the younger to stay within Starfleet, whilst he journeys to help establish the New Vulcan. It’s Spock Prime’s path and the shadows that move with him that we then follow, as the universe continues to twist and turn on around him. We see the conflict within the corridors of Romulus and the scruples they now face with whether they should finish what Nero started – with survivors of Vulcan – or not. We witness the cold, hard faces of Vulcan blame and we also see perhaps an issue with Spock Prime being in the same universe as our new version of Kirk.
There are no explosions, bells, whistles, tinsel or flashing neon lights to sell this book. Chapter One of the Legacy of Spock is a powerful, yet melancholy affair. From the opening panels where Spock Prime monologues about the Golden Gate Bridge, you can’t help but feel that floating in the sea air is oncoming heart-break for our elder Spock. The world is new and fresh, it doesn’t want this bad memory that has brought – in their eyes – tragedy to be chained around its neck and yet here he stands alone in the universe.
There is also a slight hint given in amongst the manoeuvring of the Vulcan and Romulan cousins of something perhaps even more tragic about to happen. Ever so small we see for a brief moment Kirk affected both physically and mentally as Spock Prime moves away from him and the Enterprise. Bones notices this, however in this issue it’s not expanded upon though I can see this playing a bigger role in the future.
The art from Tony Shasteen and Davide Mastrolonardo is enjoyable with Davide’s colours looking great, but on occasion – which I’ve highlighted in the past – Tony occasionally distorts facial features and this can be seen within these pages especially on the Romulan female officer. That being said his other art throughout is top-notch and I cannot take praise away from that.
A special mention has to go out to the truly excellent subscription cover from J.K. Woodward, which is fantastic and I wish I had a text free image so I could frame this as it is just perfect. If you’re a subscriber you are quite frankly extremely very lucky this month.
The Legacy of Spock could be one of the greatest comic book tributes to Spock and Leonard Nimoy around, if it continues to build like this. The mood already set in Part One of this series is perfect and I’m looking forward to where Mike Johnson is going to take the rest of it.
Rating: 8/10
Villordsutch likes his sci-fi and looks like a tubby Viking according to his children. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
Originally published March 10, 2016. Updated June 30, 2023.
