Star Trek: The Official Motion Picture Adaptation, Issue 1, based on the screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, adaptation by Mike Johnson and Tim Jones, pencils by David Messina, inks by Gaetano Carlucci, colours by Giovanna Niro. 2010, IDW Publishing, $3.99. Not intended for children under 13. Category/Genre: science fiction. Cover: also very good. Cover art by David Messina, colour by Giovanna Niro.
Star Trek: Burden of Knowledge, Issue 1: 'Uncertain Prescriptions,' written by Scott and David Tipton, art by Federica Manfredi, colours by
Andrea Piorini. 2010, IDW Publishing, $3.99. Category/Genre: science fiction. Cover: excellent. Looks just like the characters; you'll wish the inside looked like this. (The inside is good, too, but the cover really stands out.) Cover art by Joe Corroney.
Where we got them: the National Fan Fantasy Federation (N3F). Where you can get them: your local comic book store or ebay would be your best bet. Captain's Log and Burden of Knowledge are also available at shop.idwpublishing.com , as is the trade paperback of Burden of Knowledge, which sells for $17.99.
In Captain's Log, Captain Sulu is faced with a diplomatic mission for which, he is told, his talents may be particularly well suited. He is to meet with the Tholians, who are 'quick to anger, easily insulted, and [very] cryptic.' He must not be late, or he will insult and anger the Tholians, who will then react badly.
Of course, Sulu is waylaid by a ship in distress, making him an insufferable 37 minutes past schedule. Sulu then goes about mending the situation in typical Star Trek fashion. There's no surprise ending, and Sulu doesn't do anything particularly imaginative; still, this reads like a (very short) Star Trek episode.
The art on the inside is good, although Manfredi may be more adept at drawing backgrounds than people (though there are times when she gets Sulu's face just about right). The scene in Sulu's quarters is quite nice, with plants, books, and what looks like a cup of tea.
Note: mild language.
The Star Trek movie adaptation hardly tells any of the movie plot; there's no space for it, so if you want to see the entire film in comic book form, you're going to be paying for more than one comic book (unless the publisher releases a graphic novel encompassing all the comic books in one big volume).
This is to be expected, however.
Note: As in the movie, there is some violence and mild language.
Burden of Knowledge, also the first part in a series, has the Enterprise crew hoping to admit the Mygdalians into the Federation. Bones is ecstatic about the prospect, as the Mygdalians are highly advanced medically. Bones, Kirk, Spock, and Lt. Thompson go down to the planet Mygdalus III to talk to the chief facilitator of administrative council, Weis.
The planet is attacked, and Lt. Thompson gravely injured. The Mygdalians offer to heal him; but there is more going on than they want to admit.
An interesting premise, and it reads much like a Star Trek episode.
Note: in spite of the fact that this comic book doesn't have a 'not for children under 13' label, there is a violent and graphic story included after the Star Trek tale. Adults would be well advised to peruse before allowing their children to read this.
If you like these, try: The Good That Men Do by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin.
