Villordsutch reviews Star Trek #57…
The special “Legacy of Spock” event continues here! As the future of New Vulcan hangs in the balance, the elder Spock finds himself a prisoner of the Romulan Empire! Don’t miss this exciting chapter the in 50th Anniversary Celebration of the STAR TREK franchise!
After last month’s closing panels of Star Trek: Legacy of Spock (2 of 4) we left our estranged half-Vulcan now within the custody of the Romulan Empire, and with the two remaining – and rather bitter – members of Nero’s crew. This really isn’t where Spock needs to be.
With Spock reflecting back to the days following on from the actions after the Unification story, he thinks about the peace that followed between both Vulcans and Romulans, thanks to the sacrifices of both peoples, until the final moments that led him to this alternative Universe, where the tapestry he had completed is now nothing more than a handful of threads, bundled into a horrible mess.
Accused in front of the Romulan Senate by the remaining members of Nero’s crew of attempting to usurp the Romulans from their homeworld for the now nomadic Vulcans and also tried for the destruction of Romulus, Spock is sentenced to death; he’s given one night to pray to whatever false Gods he worships. With little time left for Spock and limited friends on Romulus, it isn’t looking well for our lost Vulcan.
Mike Johnson and Tony Shasteen should be brought up in front of a trades description comics body for getting me overly excited and then rather sneakily snatching the excitement away. On the cover we’ve got Picard and Spock and I’ll be brutally honest here, I wanted this to be a Picard and Spock “NuTrek” issue! I initially thought – when I witnessed the cover last month – ‘Wow! The Romulans have imprisoned Spock for 80+ years and we’re going to see Picard in the AltUniverse!’ However, I was rather unimpressed to be teased with a Unification addition, then back to the NuTrek Kirk universe.
I’m also putting on my Star Trek nerd hat here – though it grates me to do so – there’s a moment later in the comic book when Arix (one of Nero’s old crewmates) screams, “How the hell could you let him escape?!” Now this bothers my Star Trek brain here for why would the Romulan be using Hell instead of Areinnye or even Erebus? Tiny I know, but yet it caught me like a splinter when I read it.
Don’t misunderstand me about this comic book however, as there are a moments which shine. I adored Spock smiling to himself in front of the entire Senate, and I also love the fact that even with the words of the past being handed down to the remaining members of the Vulcan High Council, they have been ignored; these stubborn, thick-headed Vulcans have still set sail for Ceti Alpha V.
Tony Shasteen’s art for the large scenes looks fantastic, Spock standing proud in the Senate, the Romulan Fleet making haste towards the last stand, the fabulous look Vulcan vessels, however there is on the odd occasion moments where we lose structure with the characters faces. Though not a screaming killer to the art as a whole, it does distract. Tony does deliver a grand cover though, along with an excellent subscription cover from Angel Hernandez and a brilliant retailer exclusive cover by J.K. Woodward.
J.K. Woodward’s Retailer Exclusive CoverStar Trek: Legacy of Spock is clearly coming to a rather explosive and climatic ending next month, though I think I may have worked out what happened to Ceti Alpha VI!
Rating: 7/10
Villordsutch likes his sci-fi and looks like a tubby Viking according to his children. Visit his website and follow him on Twitter.
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Originally published May 11, 2016. Updated April 14, 2018.
