Mike Johnson and Tony Shasteen wrap up their four-issue arc in fine fashion, leaving no dry eyes after its completion.
Star Trek #58 covers, illustrated by Tony Shasteen (left) and Alberto Silva (right)
Issue #58 sells for $3.99 at IDW
Irony might be the last thing that comes to mind when thinking of a Vulcan, yet it is ironic that the lone-known half-human, half-Vulcan, Spock Prime, would behave more logically than his new timeline brethren. Capturing the wisdom of the beloved 158-year old Vulcan perfectly, writer Mike Johnson closes out his Legacy of Spock arc, with artist Tony Shasteen, in the latest issue of IDW’s ongoing series, Star Trek #58, with Spock Prime attempting to save his species from annihilation at the hands of the Romulans, and themselves.
Star Trek #55-57 sets up the arc’s climax as issue 58 begins, where Spock Prime has returned to his people after having been exiled by the new timeline Vulcan elders, who blame him in part for the fate befallen their planet in the 2009 film. While they have not behaved logically for a Vulcan throughout the story, Spock, who stood trial for his people on Romulus in a previous issue, continues to assist his species from their complete demise as a Romulan armada attempts to exterminate all Vulcan life in order to prevent the Prime universe’s history occurring twice.
However, as the title states, this story is about the Legacy of Spock, and the plot resolution to the Romulan assault on the Vulcan’s current colony on Ceti Alpha V (yes, that Ceti Alpha V) comes quickly and satisfactorily in the form of a certain starship and its captain, and a decision that is in the end, logical. All of this leaves Johnson and Shasteen five beautifully written and illustrated pages to wrap up the story Leonard Nimoy began fifty years ago.
Star Trek Beyond director Justin Lin has acknowledged that Nimoy’s passing will be acknowledged in the film this July, and while the film’s screenwriters may provide a fitting on-screen moment, they will be hard pressed to match what Johnson and Shasteen have provided readers in Star Trek #58.
While five pages might not seem adequate enough to celebrate and note such a noble character with a long and distinctive history, in the end five pages is more than enough when considering the gravitas of the character and Nimoy’s portrayal. In fact, anything more might border on emotional. Simple in its presentation and message, the final moments of the Legacy of Spock places a poignant period on a distinguished character and actor.
Hyperbole aside for Star Trek #58, the greatest compliment this issue and story can receive is that it most certainly would have made Nimoy proud, as it should leave readers misty eyed upon arriving at the final panel. Live long and prosper indeed.
Rich Schepis is a lifelong Star Trek fan, raised on episodes of The Original Series in the beginning of its syndicated existence. A former high school English teacher, he has written professionally for the past 20 years, covering pop culture and collegiate athletics in print and online. He is also the editor in chief and writer for his own Star Trek website, TheBronzeReview.com.
Great issue.
I can’t wait to read this arc.
was crying like a baby while reading the last pages. what an amazing tribute for him.
That cover of Spock from the different eras is really neat
I’m distressed that the makers of the first reboot movie chose to have their plot hinge on a mistake that Spock made. One of the things Spock has always been known for is his amazing competence, and to have the character’s story arc end in a catastrophic error that indirectly caused Vulcan to be blown up … that’s no way to treat him. (Even though I mostly liked the first reboot movie.)
So I’m curious about the comic book — does it let Spock Prime go out the way he has lived — as a wonderfully competent, amazingly ethical, totally brilliant man — or is it mostly about the one error that destroyed everything?
Spock isn’t responsible For the death of Vulcan just Because Nero was looking for someone to blame for the destruction Romulus
That’s why I said INDIRECTLY responsible. It’s not his fault, but in the movie, he claims that it’s his fault, and that’s just such a terrible way for Spock’s character arc to end!
That’s why I’m asking people who’ve read the comics if this is addressed. I almost never read comic books, because I’m much more of a word person than a picture person, so the amount of story in a comic book doesn’t fit terribly well with my tastes. But if they rectify the injustice the writers did to Spock, I might make an exception…
Gary 8.5,
Re:Spock isn’t responsible
They way I see it, he knew Nero had become combative and yet he still let Nero capture his state-of-the-art ship and the Red Matter it contained without initiating self-destruct to prevent both from being misused. At the very least, one would have thought Spock would have booby-trapped the Red Matter so that any attempt at tampering with it without his authorization would have resulted in self-destruction.
Corylea,
Actually, logically Spock Prime is sort of Schrödinger’s cat. By sucking Nero into an alternate universe he is both the hero who saved Vulcan from Nero’s destruction and the incompetent who lost it to him. And the new universe also affords him the same in regards to Romulus: he is both the incompetent that lost Romulus to the supernova and a potential savior blessed with a second shot with time to spare at sparing Romulus the same fate.
His glass is both half empty AND half full in these regards.