It’s an attention-grabbing time onboard USS Voyager. The ship is misplaced within the Delta Quadrant. A brand new crew-member, previously one of many Borg, has joined. The ship’s Captain is sporting a brand new haircut she is skeptical about. However when an unknown vessel with no discernible id seems in entrance of the ship, the temper shifts immediately from attention-grabbing to ominous.
With an intriguing first chapter crammed with crisp dialog, new Trek-worthy characters, and luxurious artwork, the voyage of Seven’s Reckoning #1 is off to a smashing begin.
IDW’s miniseries technique with Star Trek comics continues to under-promise and over-deliver, a lot to the delight of their evil genius editor Chase W Marotz who has been monitoring the comedian Trek-verse like an all-powerful Q. IDW retains rolling out nice miniseries titles one after one other like Too Lengthy A Sacrifice, Picard, Discovery: Aftermath with no sign of ending. The urge to withstand ongoing titles till there’s a narrative that really deserves it, just like the spectacular Star Trek: 12 months 5 (additionally edited by Marotz) in favor of a streamlined influx of miniseries appeared like a narrow-minded technique within the quick time period however all these years later, by pushing this umbrella method that touches each present, it’s actually the perfect method IDW might have taken.
With the all-inclusive miniseries rollout IDW, above all else, accomplishes two crucial and really constructive issues:
- Making Trek followers of each present really feel represented and
- Placing their finest foot ahead to compel each seasoned and new readers to go to comedian e book shops.
Earlier than we proceed we have to have phrases in regards to the unimaginable cowl of this e book. Nothing in need of wonderful is anticipated from veteran artist Angel Hernandez who drew each the e book’s common cowl and its inside artwork at this level. He clearly nails the pencils however what makes the duvet worthy of premium shelf area is the coloring palette of Charlie Kirchoff. Kirchoff is not any stranger to Trek comics, however his method to coloring this explicit cowl was distinctive, which he elaborated on Twitter final week. The primary subject is barely out and I’m already drawing schematics in my head for the perfect visible angle to show this e book on my shelf. What a powerful, spectacular piece of artwork.
Catch Me Up, Scotty
Not lengthy after Seven joins the crew of the USS Voyager, whereas persevering with to discover a means dwelling, the ship runs right into a mysterious vessel that sends out an uncommon hail. Decided to study extra and able to assist Janeway sends a crew to the ship’s floor, Tuvok, Chakotay, and Seven amongst them. A stroll alongside the ship reveals a seemingly deserted world. Apocalyptic prophecies, lurking risks, and a flip of occasions deliver Seven to the forefront.
The Writing
Dave Baker is the sequence author for Seven’s Reckoning and few might have pulled off a greater first subject than him. That is Baker’s first foray into full sized Trek comics (he beforehand wrote a one-shot in 2018’s Waypoint Particular) however you possibly can be simply fooled into pondering in any other case from the best way he writes.
Writing an efficient Trek comedian is a frightening activity. Firstly you might have the accountability of bringing to life characters whose tales have been watched by a number of the smartest and most eager viewers on the earth for years, if not a long time. Then there’s technobabble, or moderately Treknobabble, which is technological info uttered within the Trek-verse that should not solely be informal sufficient that if the traces go over your head you’re not lacking key parts of the plot but in addition be smart sufficient that when you carefully examine this dialog, it has so as to add weight to the story. Lastly, there’s an unstated accountability that Trek scribes bear with them whereas telling each story, the accountability to let a robust ethical or precept that teaches us extra in regards to the characters and ourselves organically emerge from throughout the story.
Whereas I’m moderately assured Baker will come by means of on the third merchandise on the record by the point Seven’s Reckoning ends, he exhibits a commanding grip on the primary two. The returning characters are indistinguishable from those we’ve seen on display and the brand new characters that arrive click on in like a lacking puzzle piece in Voyager’s mythology. The Treknobabble is spot-on. If Baker can hold this up, he can write Trek comics for many years to come back.
The Artwork
It may get troublesome to search out new methods to reward an artist whose work has been stellar for years however as challenges go for comedian reviewers, that is as straightforward because it will get. The penciler Angel Hernandez has drawn titles throughout the Trek pantheon up to now and I’m but to discover a e book born from his pencils that doesn’t meet the high-quality mark that Trekkies deserve. Seven’s Reckoning provides to that lengthy line of visually spectacular titles. One factor to all the time look ahead to is Hernandez’s consideration to element. He attracts with the belief that each reader places his pages beneath a microscope and it exhibits. The spaceship splash of the Voyager is a superb factor to have however you may inform actual love has gone into the artwork when even in a panel with 5 folks and Chakotay within the background, his face tattoo is correct.
Nearly as good because the pencils are, a nasty colorist can simply destroy the web page. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Ronda Pattison. One other new arrival to Trek comics, Pattison enhances the pencils with colours that inject a delicate industrial, neon glow. Pattison displays nice care in guaranteeing the colours by no means overshadow the pencils and regardless of the delicate fill of a shade combine, Hernandez’s line strokes or vivid element don’t disappear. Like with Kirchoff on the duvet, Pattison is the best wing-person for the inside artwork.
What’s The Verdict, Q?
Seven, contemporary from her grand return on Star Trek: Picard, appears poised to have one other thrilling journey on this sequence. A very intriguing debut for author Dave Baker, Seven’s Reckoning guarantees nice issues for each the Voyager’s crew and for us captivated readers.
Star Trek: Voyager – Seven’s Reckoning #1
Author: Dave Baker
Artist: Angel Hernandez
Closing ranking: Warp 8.5 out of 10
Observe us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for all the most recent information on Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Decrease Decks, and Star Trek: Prodigy.
An immigrant from India residing within the Deep South, Shashank takes breaks in between dreaming about life on a starship to write down comedian books, co-host PoliTreks and role-play Captain Varun Rai on Faraday.
You’ll be able to observe Shashank on Twitter @gutter_hero.