TrekInk: Review of Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #5

With time running out for Worf, the crew of the Enterprise is operating in crisis mode. Riker decides to bring the human touch into play for the fifth and final installment of “Star Trek: The Next Generation: Ghosts”, arriving this week from IDW Publishing.

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #5
written by Zander Cannon, art by Javier Aranda and Marc Rueda

As sundown, and Worf’s execution by Worikk of Dorossh, approaches, Riker admits that elegant solutions have failed and direct contact, the human touch, is necessary. While Data tracks Worf’s location on the ground, Troi, La Forge, Crusher and O’Brien attempt to locate Picard and everyone trapped in the pocket dimension. In the end, the connection between Uul and his wife, Keer, is the key to everyone’s survival and a resolution of the crisis. Stardate 44751.7

Zander Cannon begins the conclusion of his mini-series with a succinct recap of previous issues from Riker’s point of view and finishes with a blaze of action and emotion. Everyone has a hand in rescuing Picard from the ghostly pocket dimension where he’s trapped with missing Dorossh warriors and Juulet scientists. Everyone except Worf, of course. He has to be rescued by everyone, including Picard. What a weenie. I think Cannon had a pretty good time coming up with this story. He’s given us well-crafted and believable characterizations of the Next Generation crew and a sobering image of sacrifice. Nicely done.

Can’t we all just get along?

The efforts of artists Javier Aranda and Marc Rueda improved with each issue of the mini-series. In issue #5, they focus on members of the crew, all of them featured in nicely rendered close-ups. Troi’s empathic nature is evident in comic art. That’s not easy to do. Aranda and Rueda also give us their fiery vision of Sto’Vo’Kor, as described by Picard. Worf actually looks pretty good as he makes one last escape attempt, before he is inevitably overpowered again. As in previous issues, colors by John Hunt are spectacular. Overall, the art complements Cannon’s story.

Hasta la vista, Worf!

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #5 has two covers. The regular cover by Joe Corroney features a dramatic low-angle portrait of Frank Hollander Data stalking the dusty streets of Deadwood Dorossh with his favorite six-shooter type-2 phaser in hand. The retailer incentive cover presents Corroney’s art without trade dress.

 
Cover: Joe Corroney, Cover RI: Virgin cover

Looking back at the entire mini-series, Ghosts stands out as quite different from nearly all of the other Star Trek comics IDW has published, relying much more on dialogue to move the story along. As I read each issue, I could see the scenes of the Next Generation television episode of Ghosts playing out. It’s really kind of remarkable that Zander Cannon wanted to tell a story like this and just as remarkable that a publisher supported him. Those of you who skipped the individual issues can catch up this June, when the trade paperback collection, featuring Joe Corroney’s cover art for issue #1, goes on sale.

Cover: Joe Corroney

Star Trek: The Next Generation – Ghosts #5 will arrive in local comic shops this week. If you can’t find a copy, try TFAW.

The trade paperback collection of Ghosts can be pre-ordered from Amazon.

Correction

In my reviews of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Fool’s Gold #3 and Fool’s Gold #4 I incorrectly identified the colorist. Both issues was colored by Chiara Cinabro with assists by Doris Messina. Ms. Cinabro has had a hand in several other recent Star Trek comics as well. My apologies for not being aware of her efforts.

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.