TrekInk: Review of Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #2

worf The ghost story heats up as tempers flare, Picard looks for answers, and Worf gets himself in trouble. IDW Publishing releases the second issue of Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts, just in time for some holiday reading. Spoilers after the break.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #2
written by Zander Cannon, art by Javier Aranda and Marc Rueda

While Riker oversees repairs to the Juulet surveillance ship, Picard sends Worf and Data to investigate the history of the conflict between Juulet and Dorossh. Dr. Crusher makes a startling discovery about the injuries to Uul Everuud. LaForge comes up with a method to dampen the energy field around Everuud, permitting Picard to question the researcher about his ghosts. In Dorossh, Kalkass, the last remaining elder, disappears. His son Worikk, accuses Worf of assassinating his father and issues an ultimatum to Picard. Stardate 44751.4

As Zander Cannon‘s story unfolds, it feels more and more like a next generation television episode. All of the archetypal elements are here: Troi is concerned that Picard won’t acknowledge his feelings; Picard assures Troi that everything is fine; Crusher and LaForge are tinkering with energy fields and sick bay scanners, pushing the technobabble envelope; Riker is losing his patience with aliens; and Worf is dispensing warrior wisdom while setting himself up to get his ass kicked, as usual. I’m getting a kick out of this story too. Data is absent from this issue, so I’m expecting to learn more about what he’s up to next issue.

thinking

Javier Aranda provides richly detailed backdrops for shipboard activity and Worf’s investigation of Dorossh on the surface of Allios IV. A new inker, Spaniard Marc Rueda, joins the creative team this issue. I think the character likenesses in this issue show some improvement. Together with some vibrant colors by John Hunt, Aranda and Rueda make a very positive addition to the complex story. Letterer Robbie Robbins is getting a real workout in this series. With so much dialogue in play, the art could easily be overwhelmed, but it all works for me.

mistaken

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #2 has two covers. The regular cover by Joe Corroney features Picard as the ghost of Trekmas past. The retailer incentive cover presents Corroney’s art without trade dress.

ghosts2_tn ghosts2ri_tn
Cover: Joe Corroney, Cover RI: Virgin cover

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #2 will be in local comic shops this Wednesday. Only weak little warriors without a shred of honor will fail to purchase a copy.

Ghosts
#1

Ghosts
#2

Ghosts
#3

Ghosts
#4

Ghosts
#5

$3.59
(Nov)

$3.59
(Dec)

$3.19
(Jan)

$3.19
(Feb)

(Mar)

A trade paperback collection will be published June 2010 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.

12 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Cool — will pick this up!

Merry Christmas, Bob.

Be sure to read some Iain Banks over the holidays. Culture books. Good Trekkish stuff!!

WHATS with Worfs rank constantly showing up as Lt. Commander in Season 4 era as the comic shows it being?

Is that Black Manta freaking out at the ghostly image of Picard?

The character likenesses seem much improved in this issue. Looking good!

Hey Bob, I think they might actually give you an issue, being that your IDW comic was their best selling trek comic ever!

I don’t think this comic came out today.

according to IDW, today is the release date. We are given comics in advance so I can’t confirm if it is every store, but today is the official release date. Comics always come out on Wednesdays

The comic did not come out today.

and Diamond is not shipping anything next week either.

It is also available at tfaw.com. Click link above. Trekmovie always run reviews the day of or day before release

it wasnt at my shop and it’s not at mycomicshop,com or midtowncomics.com

I’m under the impression most places didn’t get it