TrekInk: Review of Star Trek Ongoing #36: The Q Gambit Part 2 + 7-Page Preview

Trek worlds collide as Q sends nu-Kirk and crew into the 24^th century to meet the fearsome Dominion in the latest issue of IDW’s Star Trek: Ongoing series, which hits stores this Wednesday. Grab a glass of Kanar and check out a spoiler-filled review and 7-page preview of The Q Gambit #2 after the jump!

Star Trek #36: The Q Gambit, Part 2
(available Wednesday, August 13)
Written by Mike Johnson, story consultant Roberto Orci, art by Tony Shasteen, letters by Neil Uyetake, edits by Sarah Gaydos.

Cover: Art by Tony Shasteen – Subscription Cover: Photo

Story:

Thrust into the alternate 24^th century by Q, the Enterprise finds itself handily outgunned in battle by Dominion warships. Q pops in just long enough to tell Kirk he’s on his own before Jem’Hadar soldiers storm the bridge and claim the Enterprise for the Dominion.

Aboard Terek Nor, Kirk comes face-to-face with the station’s commander, a weathered Gul Dukat, who quickly brings Kirk up to speed: in this timeline the Enterprise mysteriously disappeared over a century ago, and the Federation has long since surrendered to the Dominion. Kirk soon has a new ally, though, as he’s tossed into a cell with Uhura, Scotty, and none other than the Emissary himself, Benjamin Sisko.

Benjamin Sisko and James T. Kirk – a promising introduction

While the Jem’Hadar round up the Enterprise science and medical officers for unknown purposes, Sisko effects Kirk and Co.’s escape from Terek Nor with a little help from a shape-shifting friend, and a battle-scarred Defiant. Q delivers Kirk a final reminder that the lives of his crew are at stake before the Defiant arrives at an Earth that’s much less friendly than the one he remembers….

Review:

I love Deep Space Nine, and, for all my many, many gripes about them, I love the new Star Trek movies, too. Having the worlds of two of my favorite takes on Trek collide is enough in itself to send me into a geek-out pleasure coma, but Star Trek has more than enough crossover opportunities that didn’t work out (see: “These Are the Voyages“) to remind us that two great Treks sharing the same space does not a great story make.

Fortunately, in Q Gambit #2, writer Mike Johnson moves this series along in a positive direction, quickly and drastically increasing the stakes for our characters, and revealing just enough information about the nu-verse 24th century to keep me sated for now, and hungry for more next issue. Q’s presence is much less heavy this go-round, but the story has the traits of one of Q’s classic morality plays along the lines of Q Who or QPid (without the bows and arrows). The danger level is high, the consequences real, and we’re only just getting started.

Of course, much of the fun here is in seeing beloved characters of yore interact with the nu-Trek crew, which makes Johnson’s dialogue, and artist Tony Shasteen’s fine work in rendering these characters extra important. Only a few primary DS9 characters really take the stage (though keep your eyes peeled for more familiar faces hanging out on the promenade on page 11), but each looks and feels authentic. Trust Sisko, ever the man of action, to be solving problems with his fists just three pages into his appearance, and Gul Dukat is just as nasty and over-confident as we remember him (here’s hoping he gets some page time with Kira before the series is over!).

Dig the scars – nu-universe Gul Dukat

Beyond the again excellent likenesses, Shasteen delivers the visual goods throughout the book. The Enterprise has a cinematic sense of scale in the battle scene on pages 4 and 5, and there’s consistently impressive detail to feast your eyes on, whether it’s the molten Jem’Hadar phaser beams, the lively promenade, or the poor, dinged-up Defiant. Bonus points, though, if you can figure out why the door on Kirk’s Terek Nor holding cell looks like something out of a submarine – I can’t remember anything on DS9 looking like that to save my life.

Issue 1 didn’t fully grab me, but issue 2 of The Q Gambit officially has me excited for what’s to come in this series. Johnson and Shasteen have picked up the pace, increased the stakes, and mixed in some classic Trek faces in style. Bring on issue 3.

Cover Preview:

Cadence Comic Art has cool black and white versions of Tony Shasteen’s art for 5 issues of the Q Gambit series up for sale – check out a sample below, and see all the covers here.

7 Page Preview:

Coming Next:

There’s lots of comics goodness to come from IDW – next up are City on the Edge of Forever #3, Q Gambit #3 in September, and in October, New Visions: Cry Vengeance.