good reader gone bad

Publisher: IDW Publishing Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation Issue: #2 Date: February 2007 Title: The Space Between Writer: David Tischman Artist: Casey Maloney Cover artists: Jeremy Geddes, Zach Howard Stardate: 45315.1

Synopsis: Following Ambassador Spock’s decison to stay on Romulus, Picard takes a week off in the ruins of an ancient city on Rajatha Prime with old friend, Dr. Marjorie Devarona. The dig team finds the wreckage of a two-hundred year-old Starfleet shuttlepod and five valuable harmonic diamonds with skeletal remains of the pod’s occupants. The diamonds divide the archeological team and the killing begins. Picard must solve the puzzle of the diamonds and the dig before he becomes the next victim. Meanwhile, back on the Enterprise, Dr. Crusher and Counsellor Troi experience a little Saturday night fever.

David Tischman and Casey Maloney take us to an impressive rainforest planet complete with ancient ruins, NX-era shuttlepod remains, skeletons, singing diamonds, Andorians, Bolians and Bajorans, oh my. But that’s not what’s got Troi worked up. It turns out that Beverly is a doctor and a disco diva. Of course, Troi joins in the fun. The B-story is amusing, but this issue features Picard solving a mystery and almost getting killed while on vacation for a week. Captain + Vacation = Trouble. You’d think Starfleet would’ve figured this out by now. Once again, we’ve got a story with the feel of a television episode. There is a bit of action, a bad girl, and an arrival in the nick of time. What more could you ask for? Now that the first issue of IDW Publishing’s Star Trek: The Next Generation mini-series has disappeared from shelves at local comic shops and the second issue is about to arrive, I’d like to add some followup commentary to my review of issue #1. Reviews from around the blogosphere and at various Star Trek forums are about what I expected. Most reviewers agree that writer David Tischman captured the essence of the first season TNG and penned a story that could easily have been a televison episode. Casey Maloney’s art has drawn mixed reactions. His technique is very different from past incarnations of Star Trek comics. Artists like Gordon Purcell and Jerome Moore are revered by Star Trek comics fans and are frequently held up as examples while discussing The Space Between #1. There’s no question that past artists have done exceptional work, but I find Maloney’s work both different and interesting.

IDW typically publishes variant covers for every comic. It looks like each issue of The Space Between will have art and photo covers for regular distribution and one or more retailer incentive issues with variant covers. Dennis Calero’s art for issue #1 is a fine introduction to the new line of comics and has been widely praised. The incentive covers by Zach Howard offer a different perspective on the characters. As for the photo covers, well, they’re photo covers. GRINNNDDDD. That’s the sound my teeth are making, because I have a compulsion to buy every variant issue.

IDW has assembled an enthusiastic crew of creators and I’m hoping for a long run. Personally, I feel that diversity is a good thing in comics as well as in life. I’m looking forward to more of the different from IDW.

This issue will have four covers and there have hints on the web that there is something tying together the six issues that will make up this mini-series.

IDW Publishing is bringing Star Trek comics back to comic shops January 2007. This review is based on an uncorrected proof provided by Dan Taylor, editor of IDW’s Star Trek comics line. I’ll keep the review brief. It’s been more than a dozen years since the last time I pretended to review Star Trek comics (search rec.arts.startrek.reviews and rec.arts.startrek.current if you don’t believe me) and I’m certain that brief is better for everyone concerned.

Publisher: IDW Publishing Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation Issue: #1 Date: January 2007 Title: The Space Between: History Lesson Writer: David Tischman Artist: Casey Maloney Colors: Leonard O’Grady Letters: Robbie Robbins Editor: Dan Taylor Cover artist: Dennis Calero (Cover A) Cover artist: Zach Howard (Cover RI-A and RI-B) Stardate: 41590.8

Synopsis: The Enterprise arrives at Tigan for discussions with an isolationist society. Will Riker, Tasha Yar, and Data beam down to meet Chancellor Lomac and find a population hardwired for information, but no Lomac. While the away team tries to learn why there’s no record of anyone contacting the Federation, the Enterprise is hit by a massive gravimetric pulse fired from the planet’s surface. Pushed across the galaxy at near light speed, Picard and his crew must find a way to stop the ship and return to retrieve the away team.

The bottom line first: Everyone working on this comic clearly has an appreciation for Star Trek and I think Star Trek comics fans are in good hands.

The story by David Tischman has the feel of a Star Trek episode; a little mystery, a bit of banter between crewmembers, and suitable technobabble. The away team takes liberties with their hosts’ computer network. I would’ve shot them as soon as they laid hands on a terminal, but it took the Tigans several panels before they gunned down Riker and his pals. Tischman also throws in a few lines of dialogue that Star Trek fans will appreciate, and time travel. I always cringe when I read the T words in Trek lit, but they’re used sparingly in this issue. Oh, and Klingons can do math. Who knew? Casey Maloney’s art looks more like animation than traditional comic art. I think the folks who cut their teeth on DC’s Star Trek comic art may complain, but new styles and techniques are a good thing. And what’s up with Riker? In a couple of panels, he’s a dead ringer for Dr. Leonard McCoy. Does Maloney know something about Riker’s ancestry that we don’t? By the way, Tasha looks hot when she’s kicking ass. Issue #1 may be the loudest Star Trek comic I’ve ever read. Visual sound effects for transporter beams NHHHNNNHHNNNNNNNHH, pulse weapons ZZZEEEHHHHH, ZZHHZZZAAAATT, EWWOOHHM, phasers HHWAAUUUGHHHHH, alarms EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, communicators SRREAK (or something similar), and the occcasional BOOOM, abound. Geordi even SNAPs his fingers at a eureka moment. Made my eyes ring.

Will Riker, McCoy’s great-grand lovechild?

And that’s about it. This issue will have four different covers: two art covers, a sketch cover and a photo cover. Run down to your local comics shop and demand a copy. Due out late January 2007.

Well, the migration from old to new server seemed to go ok. The about page seems to be missing, but maybe it will turn up. I have six months of books to catch up on.

Good grief! Won’t farmboy, family and friends, ever get a chance to relax and have some fun? Troy Denning makes life miserable for Luke, Mara, Leia, Han and their kids. Bugs big and small, Dark Jedi, space dogfights, light saber duels, sexual tension, and two more books in the series to come. Included with this novel is Ylesia by Walter Jon Williams, a New Jedi Order short story previously released as an eBook.

Published in mass-market paperback by Del Rey. ISBN 0345463048

Michael Jan Friedman takes up Ripley’s tale following the events of Alien: Resurrection. Joined by Call, Johner, and Vreiss, Ripley takes on a mysterious organization whose agenda includes home delivery of Alien eggs. The books seems a little light. It’s a setup for more stories to follow and I think it would have made a better comic mini-series than a novel.

Published in mass-market paperback by Dark Horse Books. ISBN 1595820159

Sally Malcolm concludes the story she began in A Matter of Honor. This is an action-packed tale. The reader is rocked from heroic to horrific events. I was exhausted when I finished the book. I don’t think a televison episode could be made from this two-book series, but it works as a Stargate tale.

Published in mass-market paperback by Fandemonium Books. ISBN 0954734343

SG-1 discovers a brutal society with Aztec roots and learn much more about the origins of the Crystal Skull encountered in a previous mission. Sonny Whitelaw captures the essence of the SG-1 team and presents some entertaining science in the process.

Published in mass-market paperback by Fandemonium Books. ISBN 0954734335

Sally Malcolm begins an epic story about O’Neill’s quest to rescue SG-10, the team lost to a black hole. Unfortunately, the Kinahhi, an advanced race negotiating technology exchange with Earth, have unpleasant plans for SG-1 and Earth.

Published in mass-market paperback by Fandemonium Books. ISBN 0954734327

Julie Fortune contributes an account of SG-1’s first mission through the stargate. The highlight of this tale is a bloodthirsty, hot and sweaty Carter. What more could you ask for?

Published in mass-market paperback by Fandemonium Books. ISBN 0954734319

The cartoon Clone Wars adventures continue to be entertaining, both the stories and the art. Writers and artists include the Fillbach brothers, Justin Lambres, Rick Lacy, Ryan Kaufman, Haden Blackman, and Dan Jackson. Good for kids and adults.

Published in trade paperback by Dark Horse Books. ISBN 1593074026