Villordsutch reviews Star Trek #50…
Don’t miss this special anniversary issue that kicks off an epic new 3-part adventure! For the first time, the crew of the new movie franchise will meet its evil Mirror counterpart! It’s Enterprise vs. Enterprise, Federation vs. the Terran Empire, with the fate of two universes at stake!
We’ve hit a fairly big milestone in the Star Trek comic book series from IDW, as Mike Johnson is now delivering the 50th issue and he’s taking us into the Mirror Universe with a special three-parter alongside the artistic talents of Tony Shasteen and Davide Mastrolonardo. This is a packed issue; we’re greeted with two splendid covers, with an excellent wrap around cover from Tony Shasteen and a Black & White Artists Edition cover from the brilliantly talented Rachel Stott. On top of this we’re treated in this opening issue with numerous interviews and a “bestiary” of the Trek Comic Book Universe so far. However, enough of the chatter about the bells and whistles and more noise about the pudding!
The Enterprise leaves an ion storm – where it has been sailing blind – into the Ceti Alpha system, hundreds of light years from where it was supposed to be. Chekov registers life on Ceti Alpha V for which the crew of the Enterprise are taken aback as no colonies are known to exist on this planet. The people of the planet hail the Enterprise and appear to be quite terrified that the Enterprise has appeared, offering to immediately surrender, begging Kirk not to harm them. Kirk attempts to calm down the woman on the view screen and offers to beam down to show good will; however upon the planet they discover Khan Noonien Singh is here, declaring himself to be a man of peace. Kirk and the Away Team draw their phasers and call for back-up from the Enterprise in a panic, to which Khan mentions, “Captain Spock”, and with that communications between the Away Team and the Ship are blocked.
Uncloaking in front of the Enterprise is the Terran vessel I.S.S. Enterprise and in command of this vessel is Captain Spock, who after debating with Cmdr. Spock informs Mirror Uhura to take a boarding party across a take the Bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Even with the Enterprise’s shields up the Mirror Uhura and the boarding party easily commandeer the vessel, killing a security guard with ease. From this position Captain Spock begins an orbital bombardment of Khan’s colony below. As we close we discover Captain Spock has a shadow waiting to reclaim the throne.
An interesting opening and enjoyable but it did cause some itches in my skull. I like the Mirror Universe stories and I’m more than aware that recently we had The Q Gambit [review here] only ten issues back, but I’m a real sucker for alternative Star Trek timelines. However this isn’t the itch, that belongs to John Harrison’s face. Our Benedict Cumberbatch Khan got his looks from the wants of Admiral Marcus; he wished to use Khan’s abilities as a master tactician within Section 31, he also attempted to alter his memories, to hopefully even fool Khan into believing that he was John Harrison. Now here on Ceti Alpha V is NuKhan – I just wonder wouldn’t it have been a better plan to go with perhaps Ricardo Montalbán Khan for this story, to keep the comic book lore flowing true?
Rachel Stotts B&W Artist’s Edition CoverThis wonder aside we have Mike Johnson’s story building and I am interested to see where this is going, along with this Tony Shasteen and Davide Mastrolonardo are delivering some impressive art as well as some brutal hair styles for the ISS bridge crew. With numerous interviews and features – after the main story – along with two brilliant covers, these all make #50 an anniversary issue that you need to have.
Rating: 8/10
Check out our recent interview with Mike Johnson here at Flickering Myth.
Villordsutch likes his sci-fi and looks like a tubby Viking according to his children. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=m8ExzVWul3I
Originally published October 21, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
