Villordsutch reviews Star Trek: Deviations – Threads of Destiny #1…
So the very famous story goes: the fantastically talented and beautiful Nichelle Nichols was feeling somewhat unhappy with her role in Star Trek, believing she was being underused and was ready to leave. However, the great civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr. caught wind of this and informed her not only that he and his family were fans of the show, but how important she was within it, telling Nichols, “No, no, no… You are marching. You are reflecting what we are fighting for.”
It was this conversation that convinced her that her portrayal of Lt. Uhura was vitally important, cementing her legacy in both Star Trek and history itself. Here, in Star Trek: Deviations – Threads of Destiny, this latest one-shot release from IDW, we get a dash of that special moment and a glimpse of the fight she marches into.
Star Trek: Deviations – Threads of Destiny is a true love letter to both Nichelle Nichols and Lt. Uhura. It does not go for huge, monumental Klingon battles or clandestine Federation spy thrillers; instead, it tells a very simple story, one that borrows heavily from The City on the Edge of Forever. This time, however, it is Lt. Uhura who is thrown back to 1963 America, into the heart of the Civil Rights movement and the rancid racism occupying the streets of the USA. Kirk and Spock rapidly follow in an attempt to prevent any timeline disasters and rescue Uhura from a history she does not belong in.
However, beyond a rather large cameo, the story does not stretch much further than this fragile slice of our unpleasant past, showing us why Dr King was so adamant that Nichelle Nichols remain on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise. There is no “Edith Keeler” moment; we are told that history could unravel, but we are never truly shown the peril to the future. Perhaps this comic book is not attempting to be that. Perhaps writer Stephanie Williams simply wanted to give Lt. Uhura her own moment within this important piece of history, just as Nichelle Nichols had in real life. If that is the case, then it has achieved it.
One absolute triumph, however, comes from the art department. Gregory Maldonado, Anthony Fowler Jr., and Charlie Kirchoff have magnificently captured not only the look of classic Star Trek comic books, but the feel of them as well. The washed inks across the pages may have you taking a second look to see if this is not printed on old comic-book stock. It is not only the art that sings of days gone by; the lettering in the speech bubbles, courtesy of Jodie Troutman, is spot on. Honestly, it is unbelievable. I felt as though I had been warped back forty or fifty years, sitting with my Star Trek comics, with no other worry except what would happen in the next panel. I cannot shout it loudly enough: the artwork in this comic book is absolutely fantastic. High praise is deserved for everyone involved in making it look so brilliant.
Is Star Trek: Deviations – Threads of Destiny a brilliant Star Trek comic? Honestly, I have read far meatier Trek stories. However, is it a fantastic love letter to Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura, and the classic Star Trek comics of old? Most definitely, and I truly believe that is exactly what it set out to be. On that front, it succeeds.
Rating: 8/10
@Villordsutch
