Writers: Scott and David Tipton
Artist: David Messina
Publisher: IDW
Price: $3.99
Release Date: September
I always liked the Gorn. They were one of the first genuinely alien aliens, clearly nasty, clearly reptilian and yet oddly well defined, oddly coherent in a way that a lot of the other races (With the notable exception of utterly bonkers homicidal minerals the Tholians) never were in classic Trek. As a result, I was very pleased to see this turn up.
The Tiptons aren’t strangers to these parts and their easy ear for dialogue and laconic humour fits the two spotlighted characters very well here. The ill-fated Captain Terrell of the Reliant is particularly well served here, with a calm, deadpan authority that marks him out as both competent and NOT James T Kirk. Likewise, Chekov comes across very well, the two officers both competent, assured and reasonably convinced that they’re doomed. Even supporting character Doctor Bianca Lawson gets time to shine, as a shuttlecraft strands the three in the middle of a Gorn world and a diplomatic incident.
Backed up by impressive, uncluttered and fast paced work from David Messina, this is another quality entry in IDW’s Star Trek line and conclusive proof, if it was needed that it IS possible to do this franchise in comic form and do it well. Highly recommended.
Alasdair started writing when he was nine, powered by a hefty diet of '80s cartoons, Doctor Who and Icepops. He's quite tired by this stage but has written a lot of things for a lot of people, including Fortean Times, Neo and Surreal.