TrekInk: Review – Star Trek: The Last Generation #4

Data’s captured by the Klingons. The Silver Ghost is nowhere to be found. Picard’s plan has been scuttled by Wesley’s teenage rebellion. What are they to do? How will they get back in time? How will they wrap this up with only one more issue to go? Find out more in our review of the Myriad Universes story "Star Trek The Last Generation" #4.

REVIEW: STAR TREK – THE LAST GENERATION #4

Inevitability
We begin with the inevitable. Picard’s resistance cell has suffered horrendus losses due to Wesley’s actions at the tail end of the last issue. A quick summarizing of all of the other main characters we know and love (Janeway, Vaughn, and Red Squad for example) shows us that Picard and his crew are now all on their own. The loss of Data has hit them hardest. Their source inside the Klingon court has confirmed his capture, and now Picard is left with no way to travel back in time. Fortunately, the Silver Ghost arrives on the scene with La Forge and Riker in tow and Picard is able to brief him on his plan.

All this hardship… and all Riker cares about is his trombone? (click to enlarge)

In the last issue, Picard really grew into his commanding self that we were familiar with. In this issue, we see his attention to detail rise to the fore. His interactions with Sulu, the Silver Ghost, are done as peers. I get a strong feeling from the way that this story has been written, that had the two been shown meeting in the first issue, Picard would treat Sulu as much more of a superior officer. We also see some growth in Worf.

In the earlier issues of the series, Worf has always been relatively weak willed when it came to dealing with the Resistance. The first sign of backbone he really showed was in the setting of the trap for Picard’s crew. In this issue, it is shown that the trap was completely done at the behest of his advisors. Once that is pointed out on the page, Worf steps up to the plate and becomes a true Klingon warlord, ruling by strength.

The other character with significant growth shown is Sulu. Now, admittedly, the man portrayed is elderly, and is well set in his ways, but we haven’t really seen what he is truly made of. Andrew Steven Harris lets him out of the bag on this one.

Now, we all know the answer to this one… which is likely why Sulu can’t be bothered to answer it… (click to enlarge)

I continue to have trouble with some of Purcell’s art on this series, and I still can’t figure out what it is that bothers me about it. I recently read a number of old DC Star Trek comics that he worked on, and have absolutely no problem with his portrayals of the original series crew. In fact, his best likeness in this series is that of Sulu. Having said that, during the course of the issue, there is one shot of Worf that looks like Purcell drew it with Michael Dorn standing in the room in makeup in front of him. There is also another fantastic double panel of Picard sitting in thought, in two different locations, but with the same exact pose.

Once again, Bob Almond has assistance on the inking in this issue, this time from Purcell and Terry Pallot. I’m not entirely sure why this is the case, but, as with the prior case of this happening in issue #2, it does not detract from the story or art at all.

As noted in my review of the first issues, “I’ve never been big on the ‘alternate universe’ and ‘what if?’ stories,” especially as regard to the Star Trek universe. I’m still not convinced that this series is as good as it could have been, but it is starting to turn into an alternate timeline story rather than a true Myriad Universes story. Regardless, the series is coming to a conclusion, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Harris plans on wrapping things up in the final issue.

Star Trek: The Last Generation arrives in comic shops today, Wednesday Feb 18th.

A & B covers for "Star Trek: The Last Generation" #4 (click to enlarge)

You can purchase (or pre-order) the Last Generation series at TFAW.com (Issues 1-3 are out of stock, but available at Amazon).

Coming up next week – Countdown #2
Keep an eye out for our early review of the second issue in the prequel series for the new Star Trek movie (see preview), which arrives in shops next Wednesday. With issues selling out fast it is a good idea to reserve in advance. You can do this at your local comic shop, or online at TFAW.com. Or you can wait until April and pick up the trade paperback, which includes all four issues.