IDW Publishing
Written by Mike Johnson
Illustrated by Tony Shasteen
Coloured by Davide Mastrolonardo
PREVIOUSLY IN STAR TREK…
After its encounter with the creature Behemoth, the Enterprise found itself adrift in the Andromeda galaxy, farther from Earth than any starship has ever traveled. After weeks of drifting through uncharted space without warp capability, the ship is discovered by an alien ship with a solitary pilot: Eurydice. Captain Kirk accepts Eurydice's offer to tow the Enterprise to safety, but remains wary of her motives…
While there was never any doubt about what was going to happen this issue that doesn’t mean Mike hasn’t been able to throw in some great twists, plot developments and new technology to keep it fresh, fun and original. Though I have to say this series has really been a way for Tony and Davide to shine. With such a great likeness to their celebrity counterparts and that amped up Cartoon (from their cartoon series) feel to seeing a new way of teleporting or the vibrant colours used in demonstrating the tractor beam they really outdo themselves seemingly each issue.
I have say that Mike keeping the tradition of Kirk’s ability to find romantic liaisons throughout any galaxy is being done beautifully. Eurydice’s advances been heard/seen on the comms and the crews reaction well it’s just classic. Let’s face it this is Chris Pine Kirk so who wouldn’t be all over that? Of course before anything can happen they arrive at the Dark Market and if that name isn’t foreboding I don’t know what the word means.
Wow when you see the Dark Market from a distance and how it’s built it’s pretty spectacular and again you have to give a nod to the artwork and it should be recognized as some of the best in the industry. Then seeing all the alien life forms in the Quadrant well yeah again this is a huge reason we love this book. I’m not one for owning pages from issues but i’d go ahead and proudly display pages 12, 13 & 14 they are of that high quality.
That this area has an abundant supply of Dilithium but these worlds still buy and sell something that the Federation evolved past long ago. So it’s bartering time to get the crystals and it’s interesting to see such an advanced section of a galaxy still using money, power and the like to get what they want compared to what we see from what we ideally want to see from our own society. So it’s through the market the bartering and then a meeting with the Syndicate that things fall into place. Kirk and crew are far more trusting than they should be and while they may claim that they need to keep their guard up they did trade all their phasers away before meeting the Syndicate where we learn just why Eurydice has been ever so helpful.
I do see her rescuing them now that her debt has been paid in full and she demonstrates the first stage of remorse but we’ll see next issue as this story concludes. That this is a section of space that no Federation vessel has ever been in is intriguing and while they won’t stay here for long another story down the road where a Federation vessel comes again and they are vaguely recognized would be interesting to see. After all the Enterprise seems to make an impression wherever it goes.
The future is limitless and the ongoing adventures of the Starship Enterprise really is better than ever before and is only restrained by our imagination.