Picard Gets Jacked In Star Trek: TNG: Mirror Broken #2 Review & 5-Page Preview

Review: Star Trek: The Next Generation – Mirror Broken #2

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Written by: Scott and David Tipton
Art by J.K. Woodward, colors by Charlie Kirchoff

Space… The final frontier. These are the voyages of the I.S.S. Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to conquer strange new worlds, to enslave new life and new civilizations… To boldly go where no one has gone before!

The first printing of Mirror Broken #1 sold out almost immediately, prompting IDW to do a second printing on May 31st. If you haven’t already picked it up, I suggest finding your local comic shop or buy it online before you continue reading this spoilery review.

Cover by J.K. Woodward

After debuting a jacked-up Picard last month, the Tiptons finally address the burning question of how he got his impressive physique. No, he doesn’t do P90X in his ready room. However, the Stargazer is stacked with state-of-the-art exercise equipment that would put any Gold’s Gym to shame. The most intense workout I’ve ever seen consists of practically punching a hole through a heavy bag, a treadmill run, a failed PR on the bench press, oh, and killing a would-be assassin (as one does in the Mirror Universe).

As we learned last issue, Picard and the crew of the Stargazer have their sights set on the new Galaxy-class starship Enterprise, and are intent on stealing it for themselves. Clearly, Picard is in need of more trustworthy officers in order to pull off a heist of this magnitude, so he orders Troi to scan the crew’s minds to see if they are loyal to their Captain. The Inquisitor then becomes the Interrogator. 

What’s fun about this issue is all of the easter eggs for TNG fans, including some minor characters and references. I also have to tip my hat to artist J.K. Woodward – his art is so good that I know immediately who a character is just by their likeness. That may sound silly, but you can never take comic artists for granted and he deserves praise. Speaking of minor characters, Geordi enlists a non-holographic Leah Brahms to help him gain security clearance to the Enterprise, offering her the role of “Executive Officer of Engineering”, which doesn’t sound made up at all.

Once on the Enterprise, Dr. Brahms is greeted by the chief engineer, Leland T. Lynch (yes, he introduces himself by his full name, a callback to Skin of Evil) whom she subsequently hyposprays, knocking him unconscious. She is then able to add the Stargazer crew to the Enterprise manifest, right under the nose of its Captain, Edward Jellico.

Meanwhile, at Morbo’s Pub (another easter egg) on Utopia Planitia, Picard attempts to recruit a one-eyed William Riker to betray Jellico. They meet privately, away from the Nausicaans, Andorians, and other Trek alien species so they can speak freely. Apparently, Picard says something that Riker doesn’t like and the two begin to fight. We know Picard’s workout regimen, but it appears he also has a background in professional wrestling – taking Riker to Suplex City.

This issue progresses the story along nicely – we’ve finally made it to the Enterprise and the team is continuing to grow. The Tiptons know the Star Trek universe so well that it’s exciting to see how they incorporate even the smallest details (see Picard’s pet snake). One thing I hope we can get to, for instance, is more of the characters’ backstory, and Data in particular. I know we’re only two issues in, but I definitely want to see more of him. Does Lore exist here? What about a mirror Q? That’s something my puny mind can’t possibly comprehend.

 Variant Covers

Retailer incentive cover by Josh Hood

Subscription cover by George Caltsoudas

5-Page Preview: Star Trek: The Next Generation – Mirror Broken #2

Click thumbnails to enlarge

Available Now

Mirror Broken #2 was released on Wednesday and you can buy it at TFAW.

Keep up with all the Star Trek comics news, previews and reviews in TrekMovie’s Comics Category.

 

Find Star Trek comics, toys, statues, and collectibles at TFAW.com!

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Great artwork in these comics!

Do you even lift, bruh

I noticed J.K. Woodward’s artwork with his work on the TNG/Doctor Who crossover “Assimilation^2”. The watercolor look is certainly different compared to other comics, but he definitely knows how to almost perfectly capture a character’s likeness.

Clearly the author of the comic book doesn’t workout because if you do lift you know that cardio kills muscle mass. Bodybuilders might walk on a treadmill or do a stairmaster to burn calories but they definitely don’t run.

Another Easter egg: The would-be assassin was Jim Shimoda.