Star Trek: The Next Generation Special #1

This 1993 special wasn't meant to be a supplemental piece to the already established TNG series from DC Comics. In fact, this deluxe sized issue was meant to give a myriad of writers and artists a chance to craft their very own Star Trek tale. It was like the ultimate fan fiction comic. Only it was crafted by professionals. 

There are 3 stories in this book. First up is a Guinan led story by Tony Isabella, who now identifies as Jenny Blake, and Bob Ingersoll. On special assessment from the Enterprise, Guinan is helping an old friend establish a saloon on a Federation colony. An outbreak of psychosis has plagued the new colony; threatening to shut the entire operation down. With the latest attack, Guinan summons the Enterprise, that provides an away team led by Commander Riker. As members of the Enterprise crew begin to experience episodes of terror, it's identified that each victim is facing their deepest, darkest personal fears. But who or what is invading the minds of the crew and colony? Hopefully, a member of the Enterprise security team with limited psychic ability will be able to uncover the culprit!

Ken Penders pens a story where Worf requests some leave in hopes of training his son Alexander in the ways of the Klingon warrior. Unfortunately, the planet Worf choose for his father/son bonding is about to experience a massive electromagnetic storm. Can the Enterprise make it to the planet in time to make a rescue?

Lastly, Star Trek novel legend Diane Duane provides a glimpse at a day in the life of Data's beloved cat Spot. Having accidentally escaped from his master's quarters, the curious kitty takes an epic trek through the bowels of the Enterprise D.

This special was originally supposed to usher forth a new anthology of quarterly releases, as per the article from editor Alan Gold at the back of the book. But as with many ambitious plans in the comic book industry, it wasn't meant to be. At best, DC managed 6 total specials over the span of 3 years. 3 were devoted to the Original Series and a trio starred the Next Generation. I've got all 3 of the specials starring Kirk and Spock. But I only have the first 2 books starring Data and Picard. In fact, I didn't even know that their was a 3rd book! So I have something to look forward to! 

Actually, I have 2 things as I haven't read the second special yet!

Lots of fun and it felt very authentic to the crew of the world Enterprise D! I just wish that the mystery behind that plague of insanity wasn't given away from the very beginning!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek: Holo-Ween #3

In my review of issue #2, I mentioned that this Halloween set comic is a sequel to an earlier story published by Wildstorm. I had also declared that I had never read that story before and I would need to check my collection to see if I have that issue or not. Well, it turns out that not only do I have a copy of it (as part of a trade collection), but I've read it too! 

Boy, am I dumb. Or man, I have just read so many comic books over the years that I'm starting to forget some of the stuff I read. Or both! That's one reason I do this blog; to help me keep up with my readings as a sort of journal. It's from looking through my archives that I discovered that I have read that previous encounter with Redjac... and I liked it! (Though I probably should read it again to help like this 4-parter a little more.)

Issue #3 sees Picard, Riker, Worf and Troi altered both physically and mentally as monsters to intercept the hostages being held by Redjac on the Enterprise holodecks. They'll need to hurry as they've only got minutes to spare before the mind-changing process results in irreversible brain damage. Meanwhile, with the entire starship on lock-down, a blast from the past manages to beam aboard ship and offers some expertise on dealing with the evil entity.

The story got better while the art got worse. There's a couple of scenes where I swear Joe Eisma just kinda phoned it in. Some pages are full of elaborate details. Then there's one panel where instead of Worf looking like a Gill Man, Eisma kinda just finishes the back of his head and torso to resemble a T-rex. And I'm talking purple dinosaur version, not one from Jurassic Park!

The identity of the mystery character was spoiled already by their appearance on the last issue cover. That's what I get for waiting for all 4 issues to come out before I read the whole thing. Can't blame IDW for that. But why did the editing team not say something to the diminishing quality of the artwork? Were they too busy keeping the story itself up to par? Or could it be, as suggested by other Star Trek comics fans, that the editing team is so small that they can't devote enough quality time to the glut of Star Trek books being published at this day and time?

I hate seeing IDW in such dire economical straits. But if they don't fix things soon, the publishers won't be in business as those naysayers are some really nasty vocal talking heads and those so-called fans would much rather see IDW fail that rise from the ashes like a mighty phoenix.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Star Trek: Defiant #1 (2023 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Spinning off of IDW's 2022 Star Trek series, Star Trek: Defiant is almost like a dream team. The ship is the USS Defiant, fresh off the Dominion War that occurred in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The Captain is the Federation Klingon officer, Worf. His crew is composed of Ambassador Space, B'elanna Torres, Ensign Ro and the evil android Lore! Not to mention the numerous cameos of fan favorite characters who make the comics of the Star Trek Universe finally feel like an interconnected community.

K'ahless II, the cloned founder of the Klingon Empire, has gone rogue. Leading a group of fanatics called The Red Path, K'ahless has declared himself the one true God! His zealots in response, are killing off the other god-like creatures that occupy the universe. The Red Path's most recent murder was of the crystalline entities that Lore used to destroy the colony on Omicron Theta on an early episode of The Next Generation.

In order to prevent another war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, Worf's mission is clandestine. The Defiant has been reported stolen by Marquis separatists, with Ro Laren accused as having escaped prison and commandeered the Defiant. Worf's intentions are pure, not only as he tries to stop K'ahless from spiraling the Alpha Quadrant into a blasphemous holy war, but because Worf's son Alexander is one of the zealots of the Red Door!

Star Trek: Defiant is Eisner nominated writer Christopher Cantwell's first foray into the Star Trek franchise. Artist Angel Unzueta defects from Marvel's Star Wars books to pencil his Star Trek debut.

Familiarity with its sister series will help readers understand this opening salvo. Unfortunately, the main and variant sketch covers of this book spoil the big reveal at the end of this issue. Early reports project that Star Trek: Defiant will last 7 issues and that the events of the ongoing Star Trek will correspond with this miniseries in a 5 part crossover storyline titled 'Day of Blood.'

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #49 (Is trending on the comicbookroundup.com top 20- Ranked 4th) of the 2023 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.