The Enterprise is returning from Talos and has been recalled to Earth. Captain Pike is struggling with a guilty conscience, and the ship is attacked en route. Must be time for the review of "Star Trek Captain’s Log: Pike", the third in this periodic series about the "other" captains from IDW. We also have a 5-page preview to get you started.
REVIEW: CAPTAIN’S LOG: PIKE
Stuart Moore and J.K. Woodward present the latest tale in the Captain’s Log anthology with a story of Christopher Pike and the difficulties of dealing with deaths of crewmen and the worth of life. The story picks up shortly after the events of "The Cage" with the Enterprise being recalled to Earth after the Talos IV incident. Pike and Number One discuss the loss of the life, the massacre on Rigel, with Pike wondering if it is was worth it when the Enterprise is attacked by a previously unknown vessel. This moment of introspection followed by action sequence is indicative of the way the story plays out, with pauses in the action for Pike to ponder his own actions.
Artist J.K. Woodward returns for another brief stint on a "Star Trek" book, and will be following this up with the Jellico issue coming soon. Woodward’s watercolors evoke the feel of an old television episode seen through our nostalgia. His use of color, poses, and viewing angles look and feel like the first pilot episode, and Moore’s dialogue falls right into place naturally.
There are really better ways to show your displeasure with a glass of wine… (click to enlarge)
Woodward’s use of different sized and shaped panels throughout the story allows him to have images that cover the entire page, but with smaller panes overlapping them. The best example of this is on page 17 of the story, where the page is made up of two main images, top and bottom, but there are three smaller panels laid out in the middle, taking up less than the width of the full page. His grasp of the look of the characters translates well into the painted page, especially when showing the accident and its aftermath toward the end of the story. Robbie Robbins provides the lettering and sound effects for this issue, and the amount of action means that he has a lot of work to do.
Four Spider-Man-like creatures come to the attack, but instead of webbing, it is energy beams! (click to enlarge)
Issues like this one that delve into the innermost thoughts and investigate the consciences of the characters show what heights this series can reach. It makes the wait between issues of the anthology so much more frustrating when Moore and Woodward’s collaboration is so rare. With Woodward returning for the final issue of the series, his track record suggests that it will be one to match the excellence of this one, so far the series’ best.
The issue comes with two cover variants. The retailer incentive is a still photograph from the original episode this grows out of. The main cover is done by J.K. Woodward and shows a scene from the story with the two versions of Pike seen in the original series, showing the progression of the issue’s tale.
Covers for "Star Trek: Captain’s Log: Pike"
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PREVIEW: Captain’s Log: Pike
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Captain’s Log: Pike available now
Captain’s Log Pike retails for $3.99 and was released this weeks and is available in your local comic shop, or you can pick it up at a discount from TFAW, along with other issues from the series.
IDW has not yet announced the trade paperback collection for the Captain’s Log series.
I’m sure by the time I finish typing and post this five other people will have pointed it out as well, but isn’t that Vina on the episode still cover, not Yeoman Colt?
First?
I always like different perspectives from the Star Trek genre. These are interesting. Curious though as to why the Captain Garret series was canceled. The Enterprise-C could have very good stories.
@ #1 – I do believe you are correct. Left to right, Susan Oliver as Vina, Jeffrey Hunter as Pike, Majel Barret (or M. Leigh Hudec as I think she was billed) as Number One.
I like these stories as we get a better feel for Capt pike in the orignal time line. The drawings look pretty good and I will be getting me a copy to read and enjoy. Would also love to see something of Pikes Adventures aboard the U.S.S Kelvin in the orignal time line as well.
Nice artwork, well-chosen subject. (sneaks a peak at Colt in slacks and uses a Worf voice) Nice legs.
Does Spock have the hiccups in that one frame? He repeats himself. Also, how many Krunkkkks can a starship take?
Good stuff!
#4 where has it been said that pike had served aboard the Kelvin
either in JJ universe or the prime universe?
@6 Nowhere I know of. Fan fiction?
The artwork looks amazing, really loving the renderings of the actors and the watercolour colouring.
I also love the “KRUNNKKHH” sound effects! That’s what the ship hits sounded like in TOS — like a crash and a crackle. So awesome.
Hm, now they’ve just removed the list of characters on the incentive cover entirely. Whatever. *shrugs* I’m looking forward to the eventual graphic novel collection of these.
Garrett cancelled? That is lame!
You do an issue for Jellico, who was highly unlikable & briefly an Enterprise Captain, yet you scrap an issue for the Captain who risked everything to save a Klingon colony?
What?
I hope it’s cause you’re planning a proper Enterprise C series.
Yes, apparently IDW has decided to cancel the Captain Garrett comic and replace it with a series following the legendary career of Captain J.T. Esteban. According to inside sources, we’ll get to see how his training at Starfleet Accounting and later at the Central Bureacracy helped him become the skipper of the U.S.S. Grissom. It should be great!
This style of artwork comes across with an almost fuzzy, unfinished appearance. Not sure I can warm up to that…but I’ll try, because I love me some Captain Pike!
Edward Jellico was a great CO of the Enterprise. He was saddled with officers who were so lazy they could not or would not follow his leadership. Will Riker’s response to Jellico was essentially to whine “We’ve never done it this way before!” and to blame his selfishness on Jellico.
Lol, that one panel – krrrrunk.
@5
yes, I noticed that too. I wonder if the editors caught that and removed it from the final edition. As a cartoonist, I do find myself doing things like that from time to time, but being my own editor, I have to double and triple check these things before the final edition is put out for public consumption.
Pike and Number One wuz about to get Krunkkkk on some wine. Too bad those aliens interrupted…. this could have been a very different comic!!
Very interesting. I must get this comic.
It’s interesting that they aren’t using the proper 1701 from Pike’s era… And that the Enterprise on their cover their is pinched from one of my renderings. lol
Ray Liotta resembles Jeffrey Hunter and Pike in this comic. It would have been interesting if he had played Pike in Star Trek (2009).
“All my life, I’ve always wanted to be a Starfleet Officer.”
Why does every story featuring Pike have him brooding away like this? I know he did it in the Cage, but I’m hoping that was a one time issue, otherwise Boyce wouldnt have given him that spiel about facing life head on, or turning your back and withering away? If the guy was that negative all the time, he wouldnt have made a very good Starship Captain now, would he?
Also, why would Colt give tactical suggestions? She wasnt portrayed as a tactician in any sense in her brief Cage appearances? Should the talk balloon have been pointing to Number one instead?
Please dont get me wrong, I am a huge fan of the Cage and Hunters portrayal of Pike. I always relish seeing more of the character… just hate to see writers always fall back to the same trick. Marvel did it with their Pike series, and now IDW is following suit.
why did they abandon garret?
was there a copyright issue with her likeness or something?
4 issues is not enough they could do 6-12 like the spotlight series
love the soft art- beautiful
All we know for sure is that in the alternate timeline Pike did his thesis on the U.S.S.Kelvin. Nothing more.
Beautiful, painterly artwork, but… “Krrrrunk”?
And they cancelled the Garrett story? Weak. Ent-C needs more love!
I must be getting old. Until CarlG mentioned the 1701-C I had confused Cpt. Garrett with Cpt. Garth (of Izar).
Anyway, why not a comic about Garth?
@24: It’d need some sort of Ham Alert on the cover, for the sake of all the Kosher / Halal Trekkies out there…. ;)
@1, @3: Yes, that is Vina on the photo cover. I had some internet issues late last week, and then was off traveling for the weekend, so accidentally uploaded the story with some minor errors (ones that had been corrected, in the version I did not upload, oops!).
My apologies on the misidentification there — and good catch. :)
In terms of the Garrett issue being canceled, all I’ve heard is that it was a “business decision.” Nothing more has been said (that I’ve come across).
With respect to Pike’s behaviour — we only ever saw Pike as a brooding, thinking officer, very introspective. As such, it is understandable that most of the “prime universe” portrayals of him show him in that light.
13. Mark Riser:
Agreed. To me, Riker came over as a prima donna in Chain of Command who deserved to be slapped down! Jellico was clearly an excellent captain who must have had a strong reputation, otherwise he wouldn’t have been put in charge of the Enterprise at such a sensitive time in the first place!
Hopefully Riker had his pay docked for his bad behaviour!
A Captain Garrett story has less purpose. Okay, so she commanded an Enterprise and died in amidst an anomaly that would go unremembered. But otherwise, who really cares?
#27
Riker acted appropriately under the circumstances. As the first officer, his job was to propose alternatives to the captain. It was Jellico who came across as an arrogant prima donna unwilling to listen to other opinions. The guy made Captain Bligh look like a boy scout.
But having said that, I did enjoy seeing the crew shook up a bit. Life was just a tad too comfortable on that ship. And I do thank Jellico for making Troi finally wear a proper uniform. No wonder Worf’s phaser aim was a little off in the early seasons—I mean with that kind of cleavage in front of you…. oh, baby… ;)
Sorry, but Riker was insubordinate to his captain in front of lower ranking officers, demonstrated no respect for the chain of command and, given the complex circumstances and that a covert mission was running, had no ability to see that there was a bigger picture. It’s like: ‘Shut the hell up or do you want to cause a war you moron?!’
No wonder Riker ended up a bitter failure who had failed properly to make captain: he deserved to be fired or sent to jail for his amateurish, childish, unprofessional behaviour? Jim Kirk would’ve beaten the crap out of him! Sadly, Thomas Riker probably had to suffer most for Will Riker’s actions after Idiot Boy blew the lid on an issue involving Federation security in The Pegasus! Bill Adama would’ve airlocked him for that!
I like Riker, but he was an idiot! Hopefully he eventually grows up or the Titan is doomed! Jellico was cool: you don’t f*** with Ronny Cox!
#29
Sorry, but I never saw Riker as a bitter failure. I think his defeat of the Borg pretty much stands for itself. The guy knew how to get the job done—even out-think his former boss’ knowledge of Starfleet. And he had every right to “blow the lid” about the Pegasus; it was about principle, not letting Admiral Angryhead get away with murder—again. And you do realize this is Starfleet, not the Terran Empire we’re talking about here, right?
Captain Jellico seemed to hold a big grudge against the Cardassians. And the crew could sense it. I think that’s why they were reluctant to trust him and follow his orders.
But I do find him to be an interesting character, perhaps he shared similar experiences to those of Captain Maxwell, formerly of the Phoenix?
#31
Good points, RDR!
I’m not saying I dislike Jellico (how could anyone not like the ultimate of badasses, Ronny Cox?); I was only saying that Riker was justifiable in his misconduct, just as Fletcher Christian was in his (well, depending on which version of the movie you watch. Mel Gibson’s version was definitely in the wrong).
Anyway, I wish they’d brought Jellico back for another episode of TNG, maybe a few in DS9. Can you imagine him fighting the Cardies in the Dominion War? Oh yeah!!! Perhaps IDW could do another Jellico comic about that… (hint, hint… if anyone with IDW is reading…)
Spock, tell us about that vessel again! :)
@24 Considering that boborci never has made a comment about Garth, there could always be that Garth is “reserved”.
@31 I always thought Jellico should have busted Riker down to Ensign for insubordination and put LaForge as his first officer. That would have taught him a lesson he needed to learn. Hey, maybe it *did* play out that way and we just didn’t see it on screen. Riker did eventually “grow up” on TNG. Perhaps Jellico had more to do with that than we realized. Especially after the whole situation turned out to be a purposeful hoax to insert Picard on that special mission.
Pike be all cross-eyed krunk!