TrekInk: Early Review of Star Trek: Spock – Reflections #2

Scott and David Tipton, assisted by David Messina and Federica Manfredi, continue their probe of Spock’s past this week, in IDW’s second issue of "Star Trek: Spock – Reflections." The comic arrives in stores Wednesday and TrekMovie has an early review (below).

REVIEW – SPOCK REFLECTIONS #2

Spock’s fellow passenger, a Saurian, simply can’t remain silent. Spock is polite, but inattentive, because every other question or comment from the Saurian provokes a poignant memory of the past: an awkward moment with Dr. Christine Chapel, some time after she received her medical degree, and a mission with Captain Pike, who ignores logic and risks his life to save Spock. Finally, Spock tells the Saurian that he is traveling to Earth because he received disturbing news. Picard sent a message to Romulus for Spock about the return and passing of an old friend.

Pike gets his junior officer out of a jam.

Writers Scott Tipton and David Tipton resume pulling at the threads of Spock’s life in the second issue of their mini-series. The story is both fascinating and aggravating. The vignettes of Spock’s life feel just right. There’s no question that this is how events unfolded. However, I’m with the Saurian, I want to know what’s going on and I’m not getting any answers. I appreciate a thoughtful approach to storytelling, but when I don’t know where a story is going, I get a little nervous. Writers occasionally drop the ball. I don’t know, maybe I’m still running on adrenaline from all that bloodlust in last week’s Star Trek: Nero #1. I’ll try to be patient. Based on their past work, I have faith in the Tiptons.

The Saurian gets to the point.

David Messina provided the layouts for this issue, leaving the finish work to Federica Manfredi and coloring to Ilaria Traversi. The end result looks virtually identical to Messina’s typical work. I believe Manfredi was one of Messina’s students and obviously knows her mentor’s style well. We see Spock at several different times in his lifetime, as well as two very important people in his life. The art blends seamlessly with the story. In particular, the vignette with Christine Chapel has very little dialogue and relies almost entirely on the character’s expressions to convey the sadness of a path not taken. Nice job all around.

Spock: Reflections #2 has two covers. The regular cover by Messina features Spock, a bit older than he appears on issue #1, perhaps a bit wiser. The retailer incentive cover by David A. Williams features Spock with Captain Pike in the distance. Pike-era Spock’s portraIt is striking and somewhat disturbing. Cover colors were handled by Ilaria Traversi and Moose Baumann respectively.

Cover: David Messina, Cover RI: David A. Williams

Star Trek: Spock – Reflections #2 will be on the shelf, in your local comic ship, this Wednesday.
It can be pre-ordered at TFAW. You can also pre-order the final two issues, but issue 1 is backordered.

The trade paperback will be out in January and can be pre-ordered from Amazon

Mark Martinez is an obsessive-compulsive Star Trek comics reader and collector. You can visit his website, the Star Trek Comics Checklist for more than you ever needed to know about Star Trek comics.