Blood - and time - will tell

Star Trek fans, I'm really enjoying IDW Publishing's Klingon mini-series!

After 40 years of innumerable Star Trek plots, including any number of licensed tie-in novels and comics that have provided new adventures, sequels and prequels to the aired episodes and movies, what makes this mini-series so fresh is that they are parallel adventures to the popular and well-known Klingon TOS episodes. The benefit of hindsight, and the contributions other, later Star Trek productions have made to the Klingon mythos, add to the drama.


Kor, Koloth, Krell, Mara (with Kang not far behind), oh my!


Issue #1 saw Klingon Commander Kor's seizure of a seemingly backwater planet, with Kirk and Spock as mere minor disguised players, but TOS fans who know "Errand of Mercy" well know that the power of the Organians will soon put a spanner in Kor's plans. An unexpected highlight is a cameo appearance, in flashback of Dr Phlox, of "Star Trek: Enterprise", as the results of that series' "Affliction" and "Divergence" Klingon episodes are recapped. This issue is also available in a Klingon language edition, complete with its script.

In Issue #2, a bumpy-headed Klingon is turned into Arne Darvin, Klingon spy - his bony bits are filed off while he's strapped naked to a slab! Ouch! Meanwhile, we discover how Koloth feels about the tribble debacle on Space Station K-7. It's the other side of "The Trouble With Tribbles" and is just as entertaining. In another heartwarming cameo, a gold-shirted Starfleeter, who closely resembles Ben Sisko of DS9 ("Trials and Tribble-ations"), happens to be wandering a corridor on some unmentioned mission.

I read Issue #3 recently. The cover (one of at least four variations) I selected is stunning and features Krell, of "A Private Little War", meeting a Mugatu. Krell is armed with a deadly Klingon knife we know only too well from its lethal use in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock". Inside, he must fend off more Mugatu, and work with the native humanoid populace and arm them with new technology and weaponry, only to be thwarted time and again by James T Kirk who is (mostly "off-screen" and) evening up the odds with a rival group of natives. Again, it's the story of the episode from the Klingon point of view.

The artwork is interesting, but works extremely well. Sometimes quite stylized, and with Klingon physiques that take on superhero proportions, it moves at a frenetic pace and complements the text well. Each of the issues offer unique perspectives on the well-known episodes.

Issue #4 promises to be just as entertaining. The cover features Mara, Kang's wife, of "Day of the Dove" fame. And we know, from DS9, that Mara's future first born son will one day be slain by the mysterious Albino, and that Kang has mutual respect for people such as Curzon, a previous host of DS9's Trill science officer, Jadzia Dax ("Blood Oath"), and the future Captain Sulu (of Voyager's "Flashback"). It will be interesting to see what the story will entail.

Bookending each issue, a female Klingon named K'Ahlynn studies with her grandfather. This story arc appears to link with a "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" plot thread in the final issue (#5), as it seems to feature Gorkon from that movie.

And as I said in several recent posts, my only qualms concern the multiple covers for each issue from IDW. In the heyday of "The Next Generation", when ratings and tie-in sales were at maximum, the lines could support multiple covers. But my local shops aren't ordering enough copies to get a fair selection of the alternatives - recently, not even a choice - and that causes anxiety to: the anal collectors, who want a matched set of a certain cover style; and the completists, who want all four, or six or whatever, cover variations for each issue.

Trek fears

I have none for Star Trek XI, but it seems that there are still many who do.

I say to them, do you like "Lost"? I love it - and have great faith in JJ Abram's attention to detail and clever storytelling.

Have you seen the new "Transformers" movie? I haven't yet and was sure I'd hate it, not being a Transformers fan or collector of transforming robot toys, but friends who've just seen it are raving about how "geeky yet respectful" it is. The trailer looks amazing, and the movie is written by Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci, the new Star Trek movie writing team.

Do you like the music for "The Incredibles", "Mission: Impossible III" and "Lost"? The same composer, Michael Giacchino, has been signed up to score "Star Trek".

And George Lucas's ILM has been announced as the SPFX guys.

The new Trek film is gonna be cool.

I think I do have fears, though, for my IDW Star Trek comic collection. Although I'm really enjoying the new mini-series ("Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Space Between" and "Klingons: Blood Will Tell"), the multiple covers are driving me - and Kings Comics - crazy. Each issue comes in three - sometimes four - variant covers, and I decided I wanted to get only the art covers. The photo covers, which supposedly sell better in book stores than comic stores, are usually well-known publicity stills, so the new art on the drawn covers is usually far more compelling (to me).

However, the assortment is meant to be 50/50 of art/photo covers, with the rarer variants thrown in as bonuses for the comic store, for buying above a certain number of issues, to sell off at a higher premium. But now that Kings has downgraded their order, they are no longer being given that 50/50 split. Stock of issue #5 of "The Space Between" arrived only as Wesley Crusher photo covers and, so far, Kings' attempts to back order me an art cover is drawing (ha!) a series of blanks. Plus, there is no guarantee that the reorder will have an art cover; they might get sent more Wesley issues. Wah!

I do wonder how many Star Trek fans are madly collecting multiple issues of each comic to get all the cover variants. And how many gave up on the whole thing after issue #1.

Last night, on my way to the latest Star Trek Meet-up, I picked up the third issue of "Blood Will Tell" - art cover! - and it's fantastic! Review coming soon.

Judging a comic by its cover(s)?

I can feel myself getting testy about the multiple covers marketing strategy of IDW Publishing's Star Trek comics!

Handsome comics, but... This week, the fourth issue of their "Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Space Between" mini-series came out. This one has three alternative covers: a rather lovely art cover of Data, Picard, Riker and Worf posed on a planet, with the Enterprie-D in close orbit (which I bought); a LaForge photo cover, with a Data photo inset (ie. more like a magazine, aimed at casual buyers); and, on the limited edition one, a closeup profile sketch of Worf.

Now, way back when Malibu Graphics did the DS9 comics, there was a tendency for certain issues to come out with alternate photo covers, or foil stamping, or holographic paper, to generate consumer excitement - and most times I was tempted into buying one of each, even though the internal art and text were identical in each version.

But my collecting space is at a premium, and becoming more and more unwieldy, and with the so-called "shop incentive exclusives" from IDW so expensive ($AU19.00 and even $AU29.00, sometimes - as only a few are sent for every batch ordered of the regular $AU8.00 covers), they are certainly more annoying than "collectible".

What sent me off the deep end on Thursday was the premiere issue of the new TOS mini-series, "Klingons: Blood Will Tell". Despite me putting in an order for this mini-series, and then a few weeks later advising that I wanted the simultaneous Klingon Language Version as well, the shop had neither comic listed under my name! The inside back cover of this new comic reveals a staggering seven alternate covers! The regular art cover of Kirk and Kor is one (the one I settled upon); a photo cover of Kor the Klingon; a truly stunning painted cover (see below) of Spock, Kirk and Kor (the rare one); the same cover (even rarer!) without titles impeding the artwork; a Comics Pro exclusive edition, with another photo cover; and then two Klingon Language Versions (another photo cover, and a red/black foiled logo cover). Seven covers? Just how are the comic shops supposed to keep track, especially when the prices are so variant? I'm cranky that my comic shop let me down, despite my numerous reminders - but anyone would get lost tracking seven covers for just one comic.




Rant over. So how're the two stories?

Quite good; I had a chance to devour both of them today. "TNG: The Space Between" features a story called "Light of the Day", with a rather interesting, diminutive alien being taken home to a court hearing. A separate mission - eventually linked to thr first - features LaForge, Worf and Ensign Lo Laren lost on a planet of strange monks. Everyone seems to stay in character and the action moves quickly, even if the dialogue seems rather sparse at times. I'm even more intrigud to see how all the issues will meld, as promised, in the final issue.

The Klingon story tells Commander Kor's side of the events of "Errand of Mercy" (TOS), as he battled wits with Baroner (ie. Kirk) and a meek Vulcan trader, (ie. Spock). The comic also features: a cameo appearance by Doctor Phlox, the Denobulan CMO of "Star Trek: Enterprise"; hints about characters and the future as depicted in the TOS-era motion pictures; plus lots of references back to the "Affliction" and "Divergence" Klingon episodes of "Enterprise", which attempted to explain an infamous and major makeup change.

A fun story, interesting artwork, brilliant colours... sorry about the duplicate issues. Hmmmm. I can't comment on the use of Klingon language in the alternate version, 'cos I haven't seen 'em yet, have I!

Captain's Log: Supplemental. In an article here and (with gorgeous pics) here and here, the creators at IDW tell of their affection for both "Star Trek: The Animated Series" (TAS) and the Gorn!

Oh, and I hadn't seen this link before! Scheduled for the first round of "Alien Spotlight" issues are:

* Vulcans - written by Rick Remender (of "Fear Agent")
* Gorn - by Scott & David Tipton ("Klingons: Blood Will Tell")
* Borg - by Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night")
* Andorians - by Paul D Storrie ("Justice League Unlimited")
* Orion Slave Women - by Dan Taylor ("Hero Happy Hour")
* Romulans - John Byrne ("The Man of Steel", "Next Men").

New directions for Star Trek

Will it be a "reboot", a "relaunch", or just an untold tale of a new beginning? It depends on individuals' interpretations of terms, I guess, but the ST BBSs are buzzing with the news that JJ Abrams has announced that he's definitely going to be directing the new Kirk & Spock-era Star Trek movie project his production company has been working on. Exciting stuff!

ABRAMS TAKES THE HELM OF 'STAR TREK'
By Tatiana Siegel

Feb 24, 2007
"The Starship Enterprise finally has a new captain.

"After months of speculation, J.J. Abrams has signed on to direct the next installment of the 'Star Trek' feature franchise, sources said late Friday. 'Star Trek XI' revolves around a young James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, chronicling their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and their first space mission.

"Abrams, the prolific co-creator/executive producer of 'Lost' and director of 'Mission: Impossible 3' has been developing the project through his Paramount-based Bad Robot shingle as a producer and writer. But Abrams never committed to directing the project until Friday evening, when the deal was finalized, sources say. Abrams reps at WMA declined comment on the matter." (The Hollywood Reporter)

Not everyone races to an Internet glossary of terms when they hear "reboot" and/or "relaunch" being bandied about by the media and the fans so, for some, this "reboot" simply implies that TOS is back after 40 years, and with different, young actors. For others, it sounds like various canonical facts from TOS may be reshaped or tweaked by the new project, such as has happened with TOS-Remastered. For others, it's the end of the universe as they know it, because a new movie with young Kirk and Spock means a possibility of a whole new Kirk 5YM feature films, telemovies, TV series or holodeck interactives one day attempting to overshadow TOS.

I'm excited by whatever comes of the upcoming Abrams' project, reboot or no reboot. I'm enjoying "Lost" very much, and if he can bring that fun, complex storytelling, likeable characters and SPFX to ST, and have more people anticipating new ST adventures again, I'm all for it.

William Shatner is supposedly excited about the new film, and has had talks with Abrams about how the story might be shaped. Shatner, and Leonard Nimoy, have a measure of contractual approval on the actors who will portray young Kirk and Spock. Shatner (with the Reeves-Stevens) also has his own "Starfleet Academy" novel series coming out with Pocket Books, so the two projects will buoy each other along.

Meanwhile, IDW Publishing is advertising the forthcoming Star Trek comic mini-series, "Klingons: Blood Will Tell", with a very nice 45cm x 60cm poster (below) featuring Joe Corroney's cover art for issue #1, due April 2007. (If I recall correctly, the issue of the comic that will have this particular artwork is actually a storekeeper's exclusive. They only get one copy per 10 regular issues ordered; even more exclusive is the same issue without words obliterating the artwork.) Issue #1 will also be available translated into the Klingon language.

I may stick with the regular art cover and try to cajole a free poster from my local comic shop.

I've got it covered. I think.

Mark Martinez has set up web pages cataloguing all the new "Star Trek" comics being published by IDW Publishing.

Wow. It's getting harder and harder to decide which cover version to go with for each issue. When issue #1 of "The Space Between" was imminent, I told my comic shop I'd be getting art covers, not photo covers. They did have the retailer incentive covers when I called in to collect my issue, but they hadn't priced those yet, so I was happy to go with the regular one.

For "Blood Will Tell" #1, I really like the first retailer incentive cover, which is the one IDW had been using to promote the mini-series in recent weeks, but I much prefer the Kor photo cover for the Klingon Language Variant than the incentive red-foiled logo cover.

Mmmm, decisions, decisions. I'm afraid my ST collection reached critical mass again a few years ago, so I really can't afford the luxury of (moving house again or) buying four and more copies of every issue just to say I have every cover in my collection.

Isn't also a tad wasteful for IDW to commission so much artwork and then make it so exclusive? I thought these comics would look great, side by side, on the shelves at my local comic store, but standing orders must have exceeded the size of their shipment because none of the issues of #1 even made it to the shelves, as far as I noticed.